The New England Patriots had a lot of cap space this offseason, but they did not end up doing as much with it as expected. They were in the conversation surrounding many big players, including wide receiver Calvin Ridley, but nothing came of it.
Ridley ended up signing with the Tennessee Titans on a four-year, $92 million deal, including $50 million guaranteed. Money talks in the NFL and at the end of the day the league is a business, so players tend to go where the cash is, but not always.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said not landing Ridley was not about a contract issue, but rather about where his family wanted to live.
“It was made clear his girlfriend wanted to be in the South,” Kraft said (via the Boston Herald), noting that the Patriots were willing to match Ridley’s top offer. “He didn’t want to be in the Northeast.”
Kraft said his team was willing to make an offer that would eliminate any difference in taxes between Massachusetts and Tennessee, but money was apparently not moving the needle.
The “girlfriend” Kraft is referring to is actual Ridley’s wife, Dominique Fitchard, who he has two daughters with.
Ridley does have a history of playing and living in warm weather states. He is from Florida, played at Alabama in college and in the NFL has played in Atlanta and Jacksonville. Fitchard grew up in Alabama, so she is also used to a warmer climate.
The owner then did point out that the quarterback situation with the Patriots also may have been a factor.
The Patriots offense isn’t exactly the most appealing in the league. They have a first-year head coach in Jerod Mayo and no starting quarterback.
Former first-round pick Mac Jones did not work out and due to poor play was benched midseason, eventually getting downgraded to emergency quarterback in the season finale. Jones was traded during the offseason to the Jaguars after three years in New England. Their…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/robert-kraft-says-patriots-willing-to-match-calvin-ridleys-top-offer-but-wrs-wife-wanted-to-stay-in-south/
Author : Shanna McCarriston
Publish date : 2024-03-26 15:02:01
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