Report: Stevan Ridley visiting with New York Jets

By Will Osgood | Apr 1, 2015

Oct 5, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off the ball to New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Free agent RB Stevan Ridley is visiting with the New York Jets on Wednesday.

A key member of the New England Patriots’ 2014 Super Bowl championship team may be playing for a different AFC East squad in 2015. The player in question is free-agent running Stevan Ridley, a four-year veteran who has been an underrated talent in New England because of their running back-by-committee approach.

Patriots free-agent RB Stevan Ridley is visiting NY Jets today, per source. He already has visited Dolphins.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 1, 2015

Both the Jets and Dolphins are looking for a running back to join their similar running back rotations, which also operate using a by-committee approach.

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Playing in that kind of system, Ridley rushed for 1,263 yards in 2012 with 12 rushing touchdowns. Ridley is generally thought of as a diverse player, capable of catching the ball out of the backfield, though not to the same extent as former teammate Shane Vereen who signed with the New York Giants this offseason.

Ridley, though, has caught just 23 passes in four seasons. That said, he is capable of being a pass-catcher, which is primarily what the Jets need in their rotation.

Ridley, from Natchez, MS played his college ball at LSU, where he was also used in a running back rotation. He is 5’11”, 230 pounds and runs like a bowling ball.

For that reason, he doesn’t seem to fit what the Jets need. They already have Chris Ivory, generally considered even more of a power runner, though he’s 6’0″, 222 pounds. In his four-year career, Ivory averages 4.7 yards per carry, almost a half yard better than Ridley’s 4.3 career mark.

And in fact, Ivory is a better receiver out of the backfield as well. He caught 18 passes just last season.

Meanwhile the Dolphins are somewhat loaded in the backfield with Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Knowshon Moreno, Lamichael James and Orleans Darkwa all guys who got carries a season ago. Signing Ridley would provide depth and competition, but would seem to be a bit superfluous.

Except that Moreno and Thomas are no longer on the Dolphins roster, though either could be brought back as they are free agents currently.

The Dolphins also have Mike Gillislee, a University of Florida product–drafted in the fifth-round of the 2013 draft after a fantastic 2012 college season for the Gators. He, too, could be an option for the Dolphins in the backfield.

The Jets, though, appear to be the more serious player right now for Ridley. The question is now whether they sign him or not.

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