Before the Tennessee Titans swooped in and signed him to a four-year, $92 million deal, the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots seemed to be finalists for wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
However, it appears the Patriots were never really a serious threat to sign him, even after they were ready to match Tennessee’s offer.
According to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Ridley didn’t want to play for New England because he and his girlfriend preferred to stay in the south.
“It was made clear his girlfriend wanted to be in the south,” Kraft said, per the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan. “He didn’t want to be in the northeast.”
Kraft also acknowledged that the team’s uncertainty at quarterback may have played a role in Ridley’s lack of desire to go to Foxborough. Talk about a reversal of fortunes for a team that sported Tom Brady for two decades.
Robert Kraft says the #Patriots were willing to match Calvin Ridley’s top offer, but Ridley’s girlfriend wanted him to remain in the south.
“It was made clear his girlfriend wanted to be in the south. … He didn’t want to be in the northeast.”
Kraft acknowledged the QB… pic.twitter.com/zWhPd4rUGo
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) March 26, 2024
The Jaguars, on the other hand, were a real threat to keep Ridley, as the wide receiver said he wanted to go back. However, he admitted the team made him feel “uncomfortable at times” and “it wasn’t working out” before he ultimately landed with the Titans.
