Report: Patriots fear Stevan Ridley tore ACL (update: out for season with torn ACL, MCL)

IllegalContact said:

And what is Bolden?

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Depth

He had a couple of nice runs today.

We are going to need a starting RB. There are going to be times when we will need to pound the rock.

Vereen: He simply can't be a 15-20 carry RB from the I-form. It would be like trying to use Faulk/Woodhead as a lead back.
Bolden: A RB3/RB4 ST talent.
White: Has been inactive almost the whole season and looks more like a Vereen backup than a between the tackles RB.
Gray: A PS RB that has 0 NFL carries.

Ridley's injury is concerning. I just don't see his replacement in house. I know it is not a possible course of action around here, but signing BJGE makes alot of sense. In the last two years he's had 220 & 278 carries. He's proven he can handle the workload as a starting RB. He also knows the system and could atleast give us something in the running game.

There really isn't anyone else out there with recent starting experience. Would the Saints trade one of their 3 RBs for a cheap price? (Thomas, Ingram, Robinson)

DaBronxPats14 said:

Alfred Morris Anyone???

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Time to call Corey Dillon. He should be well rested, motivated, and willing to prove he is still elite.

This will not be a popular opinion, but could the Pats go for someone like Toby Gerhart? He suffered a foot injury in the first game of the seeason and has run behind a terrible o-line in Jacksonville. New England's run blocking might look like Cleveland or Dallas to him, at this point. I don't know specifics about his contract. I wouldn't be suprised if the Jags would like to move on already.

IcyPatriot said:

He's back with the Bengals.

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Hes not on the Cinci depth chart.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeBe00.htm

Triumph said:

Depth

He had a couple of nice runs today.

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Not now, he's the first down guy

Jonas Gray is next man up

IllegalContact said:

Not now, he's the first down guy

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I believe that BB will try Bolden next.

He is on the roster for RB depth. Vereens the 3rd down RB.

who's available for free agents, is there anyone worth taking a look at?
I know theres Michael Bush, mcgahee

crownontherocks said:

who's available for free agents, is there anyone worth taking a look at?
I know theres Michael Bush, mcgahee

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Just call J Gray from the practice squad, I thought he looked pretty good in the pre season.

Also more concerned about Mayo. Ridley is a sad situation, but remember, he was never more than the leader of a committee, and no Patriots running back is going to be. The quality will probably drop, and that's a bite in the bag, but if the O-line musical chairs stops (in a favorable way), we'll be comfortable in the run game. Maybe if I yell at Solder on the TV some more this will be okay.

But we're not thin at linebacker, we're Karen Carpenter thin at linebacker, if we're putting safeties in there. There's a thread on the Mayo injury but of course, no actual info yet, just a bunch of people arguing about HGH and Richard Sherman

Tough loss if true. With Ridley was our best pure RB, it isn't easy to simply digest the loss. Yet while Patriots will miss Ridley, this definitely does not sink the running game. It may not even see a tangible drop off, hopefully. Remember that Bolden has shown a few real flashes of ability yet has never really had that extended opportunity. Let's see what Bolden does with this apparent greater opportunity (I'm hoping those flashes are the real Bolden, a guy who just needed that wider chance to show it).
And if Bolden falters or when subbing for him, let's see White show why he earned a roster spot, why he is employed in the NFL. Hey his upside is an unknown -- meaning he could be that unheralded overperformer.

Bottom line: Bolden and even White are being given, likely, a career opportunity. Let's keep our fingers crossed one (both) of them is ready/able to succeed with this opportunity.

crownontherocks said:

who's available for free agents, is there anyone worth taking a look at?
I know theres Michael Bush, mcgahee

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Let's trade a 1st round pick to Cleveland for their RB

TheBostonStraggler said:

Tough loss if true. With Ridley was our best pure RB, it isn't easy to simply digest the loss. Yet while Patriots will miss Ridley, this definitely does not sink the running game. It may not even see a tangible drop off, hopefully. Remember that Bolden has shown a few real flashes of ability yet has never really had that extended opportunity. Let's see what Bolden does with this apparent greater opportunity (I'm hoping those flashes are the real Bolden, a guy who just needed that wider chance to show it).
And if Bolden falters or when subbing for him, let's see White show why he earned a roster spot, why he is employed in the NFL. Hey his upside is an unknown -- meaning he could be that unheralded overperformer.

Bottom line: Bolden and even White are being given, likely, a career opportunity. Let's keep our fingers crossed one (both) of them is ready/able to succeed with this opportunity.

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Agree, I like what Bolden has showed in his 2 or 3 years here. I have confidence in him.

Bolden, grey, white and vareen will be just fine. Too bad for Ridley I like the guy.

New England adapts to fill the needs. One guy goes down, someone else has to step in and step up. Although Brady took some hits at Buffalo, I still thought that the O-line, patched together as it was, did more than enough to help them win that game.

If Ridley is gone for the season, then the team will adapt. Like coach says: "It is what it is." You can only play with the players you have available, so there's not a great deal of usefulness in everyone complaining here.

Yeah, I know, it gives us all something to do. I get that. BUT....... you have to fight with the troops to hand. What the coaching staff will do is work to improve wherever they can. They'll also be drafting up plays to play to the strengths of the players we have to hand. Not just the backs, but the O-line, etc.

You can get a ton of yards by committee if New England can still play the 2-TE set, and have a couple WR's like LaFell and Tymes who can take it long, and a reliable WR like Edelman. If the team has confidence, then that alone will go a LONG ways towards offsetting any weaknesses that the running back situation may leave us in.

Never, ever, ever discount the ability of confidence, of belief that you can do this, has on any team, no matter the opponent, no matter the score.

what about adrian peterson? sure he beats his kids, but he's a great RB.
lol

jk obviously...

Tough for Ridley. He looked great last week.

Also tough for my fantasy team. He's the 4th RB I've lost this season and we are in week 6!

Ray Rice - 2 game suspension turned into the full year
Ryan Mathews - leg injury in week 2
Donald Brown - Mathews replacement goes down with a concussion
Ridley - likely torn ACL

I'm left with LeGarrette Blount!

Losing Ridley is going to hurt worse than people think. There is a lot more pressure that has just been dumped onto the passing game. We best hope the rest of our offense keeps healthy.

Jackson 2 said:

Did you express that regret here on this board?

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I started posting here about 2 months ago.