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The New England Patriots were looking to add wide receiver talent this offseason in the form of former Jacksonville and Atlanta pass catcher Calvin Ridley. While they did what they could in terms of an offer sheet, it appears they were negotiating at a disadvantage from the start.
Robert Kraft addressed the media this week to provide detail on the supposed swing and miss on Ridley. The Patriots owner suggests that the wideout’s girlfriend is to blame.
Robert Kraft on why Calvin Ridley decided to sign with the Titans over the Patriots… pic.twitter.com/eu3IzV2pCi
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) March 26, 2024
“There was one outstanding receiver that, unfortunately, we couldn’t close,” Kraft said while speaking with reporters. “It was not because of finance. Clearly, his girlfriend wanted to be in the South.”
He went as far as to say the Patriots were willing to go above and beyond to match an offer from the Titans.
“We had a situation where the taxes were almost 10% higher, and we were willing to keep going to add that premium, but he didn’t want to be in the Northeast.”
He closed by saying the quarterback situation in New England might’ve played a role, too, with Mac Jones now out.
It seems plausible given Calvin Ridley’s history in southern locales. The receiver, who’s from Florida, played his college ball at Alabama before suiting up in the NFL for the Falcons and Jaguars.
When deciding between the Titans and Patriots, location may very well have played a factor.
Ridley agreed to terms with Tennessee earlier this offseason, signing a four-year $92M deal with the franchise. While he said he really wanted to re-sign with the Jaguars, the offer from the Titans was too good to pass up.
Across five NFL seasons, he’s tallied 324 receptions for 4,358 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was suspended for the 2022 season for a gambling scandal that swept through the league.
Calvin Ridley will now be one of the highest paid players at his position, and he’ll get the chance to stay in the south – which according to Kraft, will make his girlfriend happy.