NFL Hall of Famer strongly defends Titans' signing of WR Calvin Ridley
When news broke that the Tennessee Titans had signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year deal worth $92 million (with $50 million in guaranteed money), the immediate reaction from opposing fan bases (and some analysts) was that the team "overpaid". Former NFL tight end Clay Harbor was among those who suggested the Titans overpaid […]
When news broke that the Tennessee Titans had signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year deal worth $92 million (with $50 million in guaranteed money), the immediate reaction from opposing fan bases (and some analysts) was that the team "overpaid".
Former NFL tight end Clay Harbor was among those who suggested the Titans overpaid for Ridley.
NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who currently works as an analyst for the NFL Network, doesn't agree with Harbor's assessment.
Irvin, in fact, doesn't think the Titans overpaid at all for Ridley.
"I thought it was phenomenal," said Irvin during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. "And I know a lot of people are blown away with that (Ridley's contract), but I'm going to tell you something — this dude's got a lot of talent, a lot of talent.
"It hasn't all translated to the football field, but when you watch this dude practice — remember now, Tennessee grabbed this coach (offensive coordinator Nick Holz) that knows him very well — you watch him practice, you watch his skill set, you say 'oh my God this is the next great thing in the NFL'. Doug Pederson thought he was going to be the next great thing in Jacksonville. I guarantee you they (Jaguars) didn't want to lose him — that's how the number got up to where it is, because they didn't want to lose him. He has that raw talent. And he has such a work ethic — coaches fall in love with him….his physical skill set, yeah, he can do all of that."
The idea that the Titans overpaid for Ridley doesn't really make a lot of sense.
Ultimately, the Titans wanted Ridley on their roster. And they were aggressive with their offer. If they would've lowballed Ridley and he signed a team-friendly deal to stay in Jacksonville (or go elsewhere), then the Titans (and other wide receiver needy teams around the league) would've been criticized for not ponying up some cash.
The Titans had to give quarterback Will Levis another legitimate weapon this season. Tennessee doesn't have time to waste with Levis (that's true of any NFL team with a young quarterback). In order to know if Levis has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback for years to come in Nashville, the Titans have to give him a fighting chance — he can't do it alone.
So instead of criticizing the Titans for giving Ridley more cash than he was expected to receive, the franchise should be praised for going out and getting their young quarterback another elite playmaker.
