James Richards is an former NFL offensive lineman. He went to college at the University of California, Berkeley and played offensive tackle. He was drafted in third round of 1991 draft to play offensive guard. Although Richards never played an actual NFL game, he was on several different practice squads. After being initially drafted by the Cowboys, Richards never made it out of the Cowboys training camp and was cut. He joined the LA Rams practice squad until November 1991 where he was waived and picked up again by the Cowboys for the remainder of the 1991 season. In 1992, he signed to the practice squad of the Phoenix Cardinals until November of 1992. In 1993, He signed with the Dallas Cowboys for a third time prior to the season, however he was released before the season started.