Robert Kraft reveals reason behind Calvin Ridley signing with Titans over Patriots
It turns out that money can't buy happiness after all — in Calvin Ridley's world. But you know what can? Warm weather. According to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, warmer weather is what drove Ridley to sign with the Tennessee Titans over the Pats. "Robert Kraft shares that Calvin Ridley told the Patriots his girlfriend […]
It turns out that money can't buy happiness after all — in Calvin Ridley's world.
But you know what can?
Warm weather.
According to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, warmer weather is what drove Ridley to sign with the Tennessee Titans over the Pats.
"Robert Kraft shares that Calvin Ridley told the Patriots his girlfriend preferred to be in the South. He said the team had been willing to make up the difference in taxes between Massachusetts and Tennessee, while acknowledging that the QB situation could have been a factor," ESPN's Mike Reiss reported from the NFL's annual league meetings in Orlando.
Ridley didn't mention the better climate in his opening presser as to why he picked the Titans, but he did cite his overall comfort level with the team and Brian Callahan's vision as reasonings.
"I really just broke it down to being more comfortable and what's gonna make me ball and playing back to the level that Calvin Ridley really should be at and I chose here," Ridley said. "I mean, I chose here, like I said I've seen the plan, the vision, broke it down with my family and I said 'Hey, I could ball anywhere, so let's go.'"
The four-year, $92 million contract with $50 million guaranteed was "pretty good" too, he said.
Ridley, a Florida native, notably hasn't played football in the cold. He played at Alabama through college, then was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, and spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
At the end of the day, Ridley got the best of both worlds by picking Tennessee and made his wife (not girlfriend), Dominique Fitchard, happy along the way.
