Climate appeared to factor into Calvin Ridley’s free-agency decision-making.
The newly signed Titans wide receiver apparently passed on an opportunity to play for the Patriots due to his wife’s wishes to remain in the South, New England owner Robert Kraft said Tuesday during the NFL owners’ meetings in Orlando, Fla.
“There was one outstanding receiver that unfortunately we couldn’t close. It was not because of finance,” Kraft said of Ridley, who agreed to a four-year, $92 million contract with Tennessee, via the Boston Herald.
“Clearly, his girlfriend wanted to be in the South. We had a situation where the taxes were, like, almost 10% higher. We offered, we were willing to keep going at that premium. But he didn’t want to be in the Northeast.”
Kraft was referring to Ridley’s wife, Dominique Fitchard, per reports.
Ridley was born in Florida and played college football at Alabama.
He was later selected 26th overall by the Falcons in the 2018 NFL Draft and began his professional career in Atlanta.
The 29-year-old receiver was traded to the Jaguars in 2022 while serving a suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Ridley was reinstated before the 2023 season and later recorded 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns.
Kraft added Tuesday that New England’s “quarterback situation” could have been a contributing factor to Ridley choosing to stay within the AFC South.
It’s a new era for the Patriots, who parted ways with longtime coach Bill Belichick in January after 24 seasons, which included six Super Bowl titles.
Former Patriots linebacker-turned-linebackers-coach Jerod Mayo was named his successor.
Mayo’s regime has already turned the page on 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones, trading the quarterback to the Jaguars earlier this month.
Much like the Patriots, the Titans are entering 2024 with rookie head coach Brian Callahan and second-year quarterback Will Levis, who threw eight touchdowns and four interceptions in nine appearances last year.
