Patriots 2015 Off-Seaon Free Agency Rumors

Armchair Quarterback said:

Anything on Ridley? Heard maybe Cowboys last week, Atlanta would also be a good fit. The longer he goes without signing the better the chances he could end up back here. Not crazy about the RBs on the roster. Would like to see Ridley or a draft pick added.

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With you 100%. Would love to have Ridley back in the fold.

Yep. I want Ridley back on a one year deal.

I actually think the best place for Ridley is right here. He knows the offense. He knows the coaches and the o-line. He knows what he needs to do to be successful and earn carries. BB will shoot straight with him.

I don't know if he is better than Blount but when he gets going, Ridley can be very effective.

I'm calling it right now..

Ridley
Blount
Cadet
White*
Develin
Bolden

*PQ

McFadden: 2 years 5.5 million
Richardson: 2 years 3.9 million
Mathews: 3 years 12 million

I know Ridley is coming off an ACL injury, but this is 2015, he'll be good. I'm surprised he's still a FA. I'm not even his biggest fan but he's a solid starting RB, much better than the above names.

Ridley is still a free agent because he probably can't pass a physical. He had surgery 4 months ago.

I'm a huge Ridley fan and would love to see him back but Reiss said in his chat today that New England isn't Ridley's first choice, since he probably wouldn't get enough opportunities to prove himself.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/chat/_/id/51671

Mike the Brit said:

I'm a huge Ridley fan and would love to see him back but Reiss said in his chat today that New England isn't Ridley's first choice, since he probably wouldn't get enough opportunities to prove himself.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/chat/_/id/51671

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To be clear Reiss say he thinks that NE isnt Ridleys first choice.
The way you wrote it sounds like Reiss is reporting that Ridley told him NE isn't his first choice.

JMC00 said:

Ridley is still a free agent because he probably can't pass a physical. He had surgery 4 months ago.

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Yep. By Aug TC he would have been 10 months removed from his surgery. The key is how quickly he can get back to feeling 100% comfortable once people start diving at his knees and leg tackling.

He's hoping someone will overlook his injury and offer an inflated or long term term deal. Sadly, it's really bad timing for Mr. Ridley. He's hoping, but its's very unlikely. No one is going to gamble on a RB that might be back at around 90%-95% for the first half the year, and then maybe return to full health for the rest of year, BEST case this year.

Once that reality sets in, NE is his best spot IMO. He won't get paid what he's worth if healthy, anywhere this year, anyway. So go where you improve your best future payday, and win some games too while at it.

He needs a one year deal to show he's recovered and at full health by the END of next year. Salary this year shouldn't be prime concern. (That is unless he knows he's washed up, and wants to grab every penny, which I doubt, that's another story). NE in 2015 would be a great spot for him. He knows the system here, he won't be rushed, and he'll get PT, and more based on his recovery and performance by year's end. He doesn't need (nor want) a ton of touches. Just get enough to show he's recovered and at full health for 2016. In fact too many touches in a prime role might be bad for him. If he recovers slowly, or get hurts , he won't get anything in 2016.

AndyJohnson said:

To be clear Reiss say he thinks that NE isnt Ridleys first choice.
The way you wrote it sounds like Reiss is reporting that Ridley told him NE isn't his first choice.

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True.

Obviously, Reiss has better sources than pretty much anyone else, but this is his opinion. It may just be based on what he thinks makes sense for Ridley -- or it may be what someone in a position to know has told him.

We can only wait and see.

robertweathers said:

I actually think the best place for Ridley is right here. He knows the offense. He knows the coaches and the o-line. He knows what he needs to do to be successful and earn carries. BB will shoot straight with him.

I don't know if he is better than Blount but when he gets going, Ridley can be very effective.

I'm calling it right now..

Ridley
Blount
Cadet
White*
Develin
Bolden

*PQ

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I love Ridley too, but I'm telling you don't sleep on Tyler Gaffney. The kid is a great athlete, and he can ball.

AzorianPats said:

I love Ridley too, but I'm telling you don't sleep on Tyler Gaffney. The kid is a great athlete, and he can ball.

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Everyone is forgetting about Jonas Gray, too. Gray could have blown up this off-season, whining about getting benched. Instead, he's working his butt off, by all accounts, and took all the blame right on himself, saying he screwed up and he's never going to be watching a game like the Superbowl in street clothes on the sidelines again.

He runs hard. he hits the hole he's supposed to hit. he was the Pats leading rusher last year and with a 4.6 ypc. I don't care if much of that was against the Colts, it is what it is.

AzorianPats said:

I love Ridley too, but I'm telling you don't sleep on Tyler Gaffney. The kid is a great athlete, and he can ball.

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I hope you are right. I have read good things about him.

With his injury and being a rookie he has a but of an uphill battle.

It also would not surprise me that he makes the team.

Really have no idea where Jonas Gray stands. Hes good as well.

Mike the Brit said:

True.

Obviously, Reiss has better sources than pretty much anyone else, but this is his opinion. It may just be based on what he thinks makes sense for Ridley -- or it may be what someone in a position to know has told him.

We can only wait and see.

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He wrote it as an opinion. If it was coming from the player he would have written it differently.
Note that this wasn't a report, but an answer to a mailbag question, as well

50-yard-line said:

Everyone is forgetting about Jonas Gray, too. Gray could have blown up this off-season, whining about getting benched. Instead, he's working his butt off, by all accounts, and took all the blame right on himself, saying he screwed up and he's never going to be watching a game like the Superbowl in street clothes on the sidelines again.

He runs hard. he hits the hole he's supposed to hit. he was the Pats leading rusher last year and with a 4.6 ypc. I don't care if much of that was against the Colts, it is what it is.

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Agreed on Gray. Pats can have a 3 headed monster with Blount/Gray/Gaffney. Thats why to me i wouldn't spend big money on a RB, or waste a high draft pick unless a special guy really falls to them.

AzorianPats said:

Agreed on Gray. Pats can have a 3 headed monster with Blount/Gray/Gaffney. Thats why to me i wouldn't spend big money on a RB, or waste a high draft pick unless a special guy really falls to them.

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I think that obviously all depends on what Belichick and the coaching staff feel about Jonas Gray. He seems to be a major unknown at this current time frame. Gaffney's another unknown, although both certainly have potential. I'm not sure that I'd consider them a 3-headed monster at this point in time, but I do agree with you that it's a possibility.

I don't think we'll get much of a hint one way or the other as to how high Belichick will choose a RB in the draft, but I definitely think we'll see one.

There WAS a rumor going around that the Pats don't like the jets.....i think i can confirm this

I saw a rumor somewhere that the Pats wanted to trade for Dee Milliner, but I feel like that's pretty unlikely.

I can never guess at our next personnel move. However, to me it looks like there are some "don't sleep on..." types that we really don't know yet, and actually a great little rbbc if the season started tomorrow. No, nobody "replaces" Vereen but Cadet "shores up" that situation somewhat. As I said, no idea whether more moves in store, but I'd call this group close to ready.

PatsFanInVa said:

I can never guess at our next personnel move. However, to me it looks like there are some "don't sleep on..." types that we really don't know yet, and actually a great little rbbc if the season started tomorrow. No, nobody "replaces" Vereen but Cadet "shores up" that situation somewhat. As I said, no idea whether more moves in store, but I'd call this group close to ready.

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It is especially difficult to guess the next personnel move at this point in free agency. Other than signing Connolly, almost any other guess would seem to be real long shot.