New England Patriots News: Stevan Ridley Signs One-Year Deal With Jets, 2nd Major Player to Cross Over This Spring
 Stevan Ridley has signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets. (USA TODAY Images) |
In the end, the Patriots didn’t seem to make a move to retain his services so Stevan Ridley followed a path that may be the most beneficial to him.
Ridley, the now former Patriots running back signed a one-year deal with the Jets according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and others on Wednesday. The deal which on the surface adds more fuel to the Patriots – Jets rivalry, makes a lot of sense for Ridley.
He’ll be a free agent again in 2016 and he was looking for a place where he’ll be able to showcase his talents to their maximum and in the Jets, which may be a good place to do so. He’ll join a crowded Jets backfield of Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, but if Ridley is all the way back from his torn ACL he suffered in Buffalo in Week 6 of the 2014 season he should see plenty of work.
Ridley is the second major player for the Patriots to join the Jets this off-season. In the early hours of free agency, the Jets brought back cornerback Darrelle Revis back to Gang Green after a year in Tampa Bay and one in Foxboro where the Patriots took home the Lombardi Trophy. Shane Vereen also left via free agency and signed with the New York Giants this spring.
Ridley, the 5’11, 220 pound running back was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round (73rd pick overall), of the 2011 NFL Draft. His best season came in 2012 when he rushed for 1263 yards and 12 touchdowns.
His 2013 season was marked by being benched for fumbling issues that were far overblown in terms of frequency. Ridley fumbled four times in 188 total touches but drew the ire of Coach Bill Belichick which caused him to be sat down for the game in Houston against the Texans. In a 2014 pre-season game against Philly, Ridley fumbled and was promptly sat down.
We spoke with him in training camp right after that Eagles game and Ridley was forthright and offered no excuses. He spoke only about improving and moving forward.
One interesting footnote to his fumbling issues was that Ridley, prior to his injury in Buffalo had zero fumbles in 98 touches in 2014. That breaks down to four fumbles in his last 286 touches…not that big an issue. Certainly he wasn’t the fumbling machine that was being portrayed around social media.
In his last full game before being injured, Ridley rushed for 113 yards on 27 carries (4.2 avg) and a touchdown against the Bengals. His struggles early in the season mirrored the offensive line’s. The Cincinnati game marked the beginning of the offense’s resurgence as the OL solidified and provided Tom Brady more time to throw as well as improved in their run blocking.
He hits the hole quickly and with good vision, quicker than LaGarrette Blount and provided he’s healthy and all the way back, should do the same for the Jets. Ridley was always the consummate professional with the Patriots and they’ll miss his toughness between the tackles as well as his stylish clothing options…
The prevailing school of thought even before his injury in October, was that Ridley would be allowed to walk in free agency this spring and that the team would make an effort to bring back Vereen. Now both have departed for the Big Apple.
The Patriots will move on with a running back by committee approach with LaGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, Jonas Gray, James White, Tyler Gaffney, Travaris Cadet and Dion Lewis. They are still expected to add another running back in the NFL Draft that begins on April 30.
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