Miami Dolphins Hosting RB Stevan Ridley
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins have been pretty quiet since the first few days of free agency. They have hosted a few players here and there but haven’t made any significant signings since opening week. Today they will host former New England Patriot starting running back Stevan Ridley.
http://t.co/XByfTcTk6q >> REPORTS: RB Stevan Ridley Visiting Dolphins http://t.co/DWZ114g5hx
— Dolphins Buzztap (@dolphinsbuzztap) March 31, 2015
Ben Volin who used to cover the Dolphins and now covers the Patriots for the Boston Globe believes that Ridley could be the “thunder to (Lamar) Miller’s lightning”. Often benched in New England for fumbling, Ridley has played a significant role in the Patriot offense the last few seasons. Last year he was injured and placed on IR.
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His fumbling actually isn’t an issue as some have pointed out on Twitter. Instead it seems as though Patriot coach Bill Belichick used the benching to send a message. Last season he had not fumbled the ball up until his injury. He carried the ball 94 times in 2014.
Ridley's "fumbling issues" are a bit over-exaggerated. Last 3 yrs, he fumbled once every 80 carries. Jamaal Charles fumbled once every 63.
— Matt Infante (@MattyInfante) March 31, 2015
Ridley is the top ranked free agent running back left on the market. The Dolphins could use another running back given the fact that the team consists of Lamar Miller, Mike Gillislee, LaMichael James and Damien Williams. Last season the Dolphins signed Knowshon Moreno but lost him in week two to an injury.
At 26 years old, Ridley still has plenty to offer a team and can still carry a large load if needed. In his four seasons thus far he has rushed for 2,817 yards on 649 carries. He has 22 touchdowns in that same period. He has appeared in 52 games starting 25 of them. Last season he started five games before being in injured.
In addition to filling a need on the team, Ridley could also provide some needed insight into the Bill Belichick system although I doubt he could provide much as Belichick changes everything year to year.