Gronkandez
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.If Blount and Gray are on our roster, i can't see Ridley making the team.
So you think Blount and Gray would push Rids off the roster? Or just that you don't think he is needed?
hes a good kid, but as a running back hes average at best.
I like Ridley, but in our offense he's a 2 down back with fumbling and injury issues. He might be more talented than Blount, but BB trusts Blount more and he's super cheap
There are probably 10 RB's that we might sign be willing to sign at a minimum salary plus incentives. If that's all he is worth to the patriots, I suspect Ridley would (and should) go elsewhere.
OK, so many of you think that Ridley is about the same or worse than Gray and Gaffney. If Belichick agrees with you guys, then Ridley will play elsewhere, perhaps in a starting role, perhaps not.
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If on the other hand, Ridley is capable of being our starter this year or next (or tandem with Blount), then the issues is whether RIDLEY would agree to come back at what Belichick has to offer. Personally, I think that folks are overvaluing both Blount and Gray.
Folks keep on saying that a 3-5 year contract can't be worked out. Let's look at a 3-year contract.
2015 Signing Bonus - $1.5M
Salary - $1M
NLTBE incentives - ????
2016 Roster Bonus - $2M if Ridley is on the team at the end of 2015
2016 Salary $1.5M
LTBE incentives ????
2017 Salary $2M (or perhaps $3M)
LTBE incentives ????
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The 2015 cap hit would be $1.5M, $1M more than Gray or Gaffney.
PATRIOTS
The team would be paying $1.5M to get a starting quality running back instead of Gray.
The team would have decisions to make each year.
RIDLEY
If he performs, he earns 3/$8M plus incentives. If not, he has $2.5M in his pocket. If he and team disagree, then he would move on after 2015. If both agree that he is their starter, then he would get $3.5M for 2016, possibly plus incentives.
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BOTTOM LINE
You might not think Ridley is worth the additional $1.5M bonus. You may think that Gray or Gaffney are your 2015 or 2016 starters.
However, if you believe that Ridley is worth having on the roster, then I think that we have offer more than veteran minimum plus incentives to keep him. There should be lots of teams where he might be more likely to earn incentives, or teams who might offer more.
From the patriots perspective, I suppose a 1-year deal is a no-lose situation. However, he would be a free agent after the season and likely move on if he has had a good year.
IMHO, if you want Ridley for the future, the way to do that is with a 2015 signing bonus and a 2016 roster bonus to be earned if he is on the roster when the 2016 season begins.
Can anyone remember the last time Belichick signed any RB to a second NFL contract? Unless I'm forgetting someone, it's been a while.
There are probably 10 RB's that we might sign be willing to sign at a minimum salary plus incentives. If that's all he is worth to the patriots, I suspect Ridley would (and should) go elsewhere.
OK, so many of you think that Ridley is about the same or worse than Gray and Gaffney. If Belichick agrees with you guys, then Ridley will play elsewhere, perhaps in a starting role, perhaps not.
================================
If on the other hand, Ridley is capable of being our starter this year or next (or tandem with Blount), then the issues is whether RIDLEY would agree to come back at what Belichick has to offer. Personally, I think that folks are overvaluing both Blount and Gray.
Folks keep on saying that a 3-5 year contract can't be worked out. Let's look at a 3-year contract.
2015 Signing Bonus - $1.5M
Salary - $1M
NLTBE incentives - ????
2016 Roster Bonus - $2M if Ridley is on the team at the end of 2015
2016 Salary $1.5M
LTBE incentives ????
2017 Salary $2M (or perhaps $3M)
LTBE incentives ????
=======================
The 2015 cap hit would be $1.5M, $1M more than Gray or Gaffney.
PATRIOTS
The team would be paying $1.5M to get a starting quality running back instead of Gray.
The team would have decisions to make each year.
RIDLEY
If he performs, he earns 3/$8M plus incentives. If not, he has $2.5M in his pocket. If he and team disagree, then he would move on after 2015. If both agree that he is their starter, then he would get $3.5M for 2016, possibly plus incentives.
==============
BOTTOM LINE
You might not think Ridley is worth the additional $1.5M bonus. You may think that Gray or Gaffney are your 2015 or 2016 starters.
However, if you believe that Ridley is worth having on the roster, then I think that we have offer more than veteran minimum plus incentives to keep him. There should be lots of teams where he might be more likely to earn incentives, or teams who might offer more.
From the patriots perspective, I suppose a 1-year deal is a no-lose situation. However, he would be a free agent after the season and likely move on if he has had a good year.
IMHO, if you want Ridley for the future, the way to do that is with a 2015 signing bonus and a 2016 roster bonus to be earned if he is on the roster when the 2016 season begins.
That is kind of why I don't want them to sign Ridley. Either get someone better or give up on being a good running team cause he is not your answer.
Some comments on the comments -
1. It is true that Ridley has been the best RB the Pats have had since Dillon.
2. Can we please put that 'fumbling issue' behind us. When he had 4 in 2013 it was an over rated media creation. The fact he had zero last season, seems to be ignored by those trying to create something from nothing.
3. Unfortunately for Ridley he is coming off a serious injury and onto a RB corps that includes Blount, Gray, and Gaffney, all who do about the same thing as Steven. While I agree that Ridley is probably better than those 3, the question is, 'how much better'.
4. 3 things hurt Ridley likely coming back. a. IIRC he doesn't play special teams. b. to date, he's not been a reliable pass receiver. c. The offensive system doesn't value RB's enough to even have a need for a #1 RB.
5. All that being said, I'd be fine with having him come back with a highly incentivized one year deal. That would be a good thing for the Pats, more depth and talent. However I'd be surprised if someone doesn't give him a slightly better deal on a team where he'd be more likely to get the snaps he needs to meet those incentives. Still he loves it here, so.....
6. The Pats need some RB help, but not in the area that Ridley plays. We need Vareen or Vareen's replacement. And since I have zero confidence in White, its most likely going to have to come from outside the organization.
6. We need Vareen or Vareen's replacement. And since I have zero confidence in White, its most likely going to have to come from outside the organization.
I like Ridley, but in our offense he's a 2 down back with fumbling and injury issues. He might be more talented than Blount, but BB trusts Blount more and he's super cheap. Gray has talent and potential, i'm not sure BB will want to pay for Ridley. BB will not carry more than 5 rb's on the roster and currently we have Blount, Gray, White, Bolden (will stay because of ST) and Vereen. Even if we lose Vereen, Ridley is not his replacement.