Pittsburgh Steelers running back Stevan Ridley will have something extra to prove on Sunday.
Ridley was drafted in the third round in 2011 by the New England Patriots and played four seasons for them. He rushed for 2,817 yards and 22 touchdowns for them, including a 1,263-yard, 12-touchdown season in 2012. But then he tore his ACL and MCL during the 2014 season and never got back with New England.
Ridley has bounced around to many other teams since the Patriots let him go and he still hasn’t shown his form from that 2012 season. Now he’s with the Steelers, getting carries here and there, and he says he wants to beat the Patriots more than any other team.
“I’m very open and I have to be real: I want this game more than any other game, man,” Ridley told the Boston Herald’s Kevin Duffy.
“I was trashed after an injury. I’m just going to put it that way. I’m not going to say specifically, but to be a starter for (the Patriots) for four years, to tear my ACL and never get a call back, that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Ridley believes the Pats still haven’t found an answer at running back since his injury. He feels they continue to shuffle guys in and out ever since.
Maybe someone should remind him that he was already on the roster bubble due to fumbling issues before his injury.
The Steelers are thin at running back with James Conner hurt and could give carries to Jaylen Samuels as well as Ridley. As far as a big revenge game coming? We don’t see it happening, but we admire the grudge.
