Ridley has three offers on the table

I don't think any NFL team (well, there are some really dumb ones...) would sign Ridley as a #1 back. You can't. He's coming off ACL surgery and you have no idea when, or even if, he will return to his old level of production (which was JAG level for a #1 back).

Gotta assume he'll go wherever the most money is guaranteed. That's certainly what I would do in his shoes.

Ross12 said:

Skins might offer a decent offense for him (run centric), but they have Alfred Morris as the top back, so he wouldn't be the lead dog. Same with the NYJ and Chris Ivory. The Dolphins won't run it as much as the other two teams, but he has a clear shot at claiming the lead RB job there.

Click to expand...

In Miami, Miller had 1,100 yds rushing, a whopping 5.1 YPC, close to 40 receptions out of the backfield, and closed the season very strong with back to back totals of 92 and 178 yds to end the year.

He won't have any lead back opportunities no matter what. As a matter of fact, it can be argued that his best chance at having a showcased role would be here in N.England--although it's obvious that Belichick has moved on. It would seem that he may be in line for 8-10 carries a game (at best) for either MIA or WSH, unless their lead back would become injured.


NYJ--Bilal Powel, Chris Ivory

MIA--Lamar Miller, possibility of Knowshown Moreno returning as FA

WSH--Alfred Morris

BradyFTW! said:

Gotta assume he'll go wherever the most money is guaranteed. That's certainly what I would do in his shoes.

Click to expand...

Personally, if I were in his shoes, I would want to try to get in the best situation which would actually allow me to showcase my skills, in an attempt to get back to the 4.4 and 4.3 YPC seasons of 2012 and 2013, so that I could get a "real" contract next spring in free agency.

That's what I'd be looking for, although as noted, none of the situations are really all that great unless that team's lead back becomes injured.

Your statement obviously makes a lot of sense in terms of guaranteed money, although I'm wondering if the offers are similar enough to where I'd rather be looking at the bigger picture.

supafly said:

In Miami, Miller had 1,100 yds rushing, a whopping 5.1 YPC, close to 40 receptions out of the backfield, and closed the season very strong with back to back totals of 92 and 178 yds to end the year.

He won't have any lead back opportunities no matter what. As a matter of fact, it can be argued that his best chance at having a showcased role would be here in N.England--although it's obvious that Belichick has moved on. It would seem that he may be in line for 8-10 carries a game (at best) for either MIA or WSH, unless their lead back would become injured.


NYJ--Bilal Powel, Chris Ivory

MIA--Lamar Miller, possibility of Knowshown Moreno returning as FA

WSH--Alfred Morris

Click to expand...

Yeah I realize Miller is there, it just seemed to me as though Ridley could more easily seize the reins from Miller than he could from Ivory or Morris.

I don't think he is a JAG neither a player that we should be worried to lose. Actually I might be the only one that actually wants him to sign with another team since a lot of fans wants him on the cheap. I think he staying, once he knows the system and is a serviceable/good RB will take reps from whoever should replace him, either the guys already in place or a future draft pick, actually if he stays he might even prevent BB from using a pick in a RB, which is a mistake in my opinion, we need to draft a talented RB for the future and even sign a guy cut in training camp, the offense can immensely benefit from an upgrade or 2 at RB.

To me, a JAG is an average quality NFL player at his position. So, in Ridley's case, maybe the 16th best feature back in the league pre-ACL tear. I certainly don't see him as better than that. He had one good year, but a lot of JAG running backs have one good year.

Plus, his lack of production in the passing game knocks him down a couple of notches.

Ross12 said:

Yeah I realize Miller is there, it just seemed to me as though Ridley could more easily seize the reins from Miller than he could from Ivory or Morris.

Click to expand...

The more I see his specific suitors, the more it seems like Belichick has decided to move on, because I don't see how those other situations could be considered that much better than how he started the 2014 season with us.

Of course, it's also possible that those other 3 teams are offering a little more money, but like I said--I'd be looking at trying to put myself in the best situation for the future, in an attempt to hit FA next spring.

hwc said:

To me, a JAG is an average quality NFL player at his position. So, in Ridley's case, maybe the 16th best feature back in the league pre-ACL tear. I certainly don't see him as better than that. He had one good year, but a lot of JAG running backs have one good year.

Click to expand...

He was on pace for the same number of yards and touchdowns in 2013 with the exact same YPC average as the year before. Of course, the fact that he had the fumbling issues set him back and forced Belichick to go to more of a RBBC system again.

I think Ridley could still provide excellent value, considering that someone will be getting him for pennies on the dollar, but that's just my opinion. When he's not fumbling, he's running fairly effectively.

supafly said:

The more I see his specific suitors, the more it seems like Belichick has decided to move on, because I don't see how those other situations could be considered that much better than how he started the 2014 season with us.

Of course, it's also possible that those other 3 teams are offering a little more money, but like I said--I'd be looking at trying to put myself in the best situation for the future, in an attempt to hit FA next spring.

Click to expand...

I am inclined to agree, but I'm assuming that the Dolphins would be looking to sign Ridley to potentially compete with and overtake Miller just like Moreno did last year. Then again, Miller had somewhat of a breakout year, so that could certainly end up not being the case. In NY and Washington, Ivory and Morris are both talented, but neither were drafted or brought to the organization by the current HCs. So maybe that could factor in also.

Playing alongside Blount in NE could well be his best bet at this point, but I think you're right that BB has moved on already.

supafly said:

He was on pace for the same number of yards and touchdowns in 2013 with the exact same YPC average as the year before. Of course, the fact that he had the fumbling issues set him back and forced Belichick to go to more of a RBBC system again..

Click to expand...

By definition, I don't think you can be much more than a JAG if your coach doesn't have confidence to put you in the game because of a performance issue.

hwc said:

By definition, I don't think you can be much more than a JAG if your coach doesn't have confidence to put you in the game because of a performance issue.

Click to expand...

A performance issue many felt the reaction to was a bit overboard. '11 SB? You don't think he may have changed that game at all? I'd label him as above JAG pre-injury. Certainly not someone to break the bank for, but a talented back that can see the hole, set up a block, and run over or make a guy miss. While he lacks the long speed to break one to the house, he can create a couple extra yards in the garbage, and rarely lost yardage. In fact, most plays he lost yardage on can directly be attributed to the line, and many times he made the free man miss, going from -4 to -2.

All that said, I'd still take a flyer on a draft pick. RB is one of the easiest positional transitions to the NFL. Especially when the role being replaced is primarily a runner, with little role in the pass game (whether in pass pro, or receiving).

My best wishes to KidRid. I truly hope he takes over a role somewhere. He seemed to be a well spoken professional while here, acknowledging his own mistakes in losses, and not saying much other than that.

woolster22 said:

A performance issue many felt the reaction to was a bit overboard. '11 SB? You don't think he may have changed that game at all? I'd label him as above JAG pre-injury. Certainly not someone to break the bank for, but a talented back that can see the hole, set up a block, and run over or make a guy miss. While he lacks the long speed to break one to the house, he can create a couple extra yards in the garbage, and rarely lost yardage. In fact, most plays he lost yardage on can directly be attributed to the line, and many times he made the free man miss, going from -4 to -2.

All that said, I'd still take a flyer on a draft pick. RB is one of the easiest positional transitions to the NFL. Especially when the role being replaced is primarily a runner, with little role in the pass game (whether in pass pro, or receiving).

My best wishes to KidRid. I truly hope he takes over a role somewhere. He seemed to be a well spoken professional while here, acknowledging his own mistakes in losses, and not saying much other than that.

Click to expand...

I certainly tend to agree with you that I'd personally rate him slightly above the usual definition of "JAG," although both sides have valid points. I think that most of us were fairly high on him after the 2012 season, until he ran into the middle of the year fumbling issues in the 2013 campaign.

For whatever it's worth---I couldn't agree with you more regarding his potential help in the SB46 loss. To be honest, I think our lack of running game has hurt in the past THREE Super Bowls.

As mentioned earlier, I do believe that a team can get some decent value with him as a RB2 with the potential to step in for a RB1, assuming that we're in the right ballpark with our one-year contract predictions (somewhere between 1.0--1.25m for me).

Like you, I do believe that a draft pick is definitely in order, particularly when you factor both the losses of Vereen and Ridley into the equation.

If you had told me 2 years ago that when their contracts expire Vareen would get $4.5m per year and Ridley would be struggling to get $1.5m I would have been SHOCKED. It shows you that the last year pre-FA is all that matters.

Okay... so here's the plan:

-Ridley signs a FA agreement with the Jets
-The Jets sit him on the bench
-The Jets cut him in Week Six, to make roster space for an extra Punter
-The Pats pick him up on waivers

Net-net: The Pats earn another 6th Round Compensatory selection in 2016 for losing him to the Jets, without really losing him to the Jets

mgteich said:

No, we don't have a spot. We have Gray starting our first game and Gaffney backing him up. We also have Gray and Gaffney as the starter and backup for 2016.

I strongly disagree with those here who think that we don't have a need at running back.

Click to expand...

When it comes to Ridley, over his entire time here, there was a need for RB......his presence never changed that

Moving on from him was not a mistake

mgteich said:

No, we don't have a spot. We have Gray starting our first game and Gaffney backing him up. We also have Gray and Gaffney as the starter and backup for 2016.

I strongly disagree with those here who think that we don't have a need at running back.

Click to expand...

Too early to count on Gaffney.

hwc said:

I don't believe Ridley is in a position to be real choosy about his next contract. He's closer to being out of the NFL than having teams bid for his services.

.

Click to expand...

Huh? He has 3 teams with offers on the table.

patfanken said:

Ridley was a very good RB with an unjustified rep as a chronic fumbler.

Click to expand...

Ridley was a serviceable runner. Very good is a stretch.

What we do know is that he fumbled more than BB liked.

mgteich said:

No, we don't have a spot. We have Gray starting our first game and Gaffney backing him up. We also have Gray and Gaffney as the starter and backup for 2016.

I strongly disagree with those here who think that we don't have a need at running back.

Click to expand...

The Patriots do need to add some talent at running back, but it's not that big of a deal. The draft always offers good value in the middle rounds, and there are solid running backs available right through final cut downs. My guess is that the player who will be lining up behind Brady on opening day isn't on the roster yet with Blount suspended.