Stevan Ridley: Pats 'made a mistake' with Deflategate

Former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley is one of many former and current NFL players who view Deflategate as minor. In his eyes, the Pats "made a mistake" but still very much earned the Super Bowl victory against the Seahawks in February.

Ridley, who signed with the New York Jets this off-season, said the following:

“They made a mistake,” Ridley said. “The best thing that can happen is that they deal with that on their own. That has nothing to do with the New York Jets, and this is where I am now.”

“At the end of the day, the Super Bowl champs are the Super Bowl champs,” Ridley told NJ.com. “The football is deflated or not, it took a lot of hard work to get there. I’m not saying they’re right; I’m not saying they’re wrong. But what I am saying is you can’t take away that they got that title.”

Ridley only played six games for the Patriots last season. He tore his ACL in Week 6 at Buffalo, but was effective when he had the ball. He only compiled 340 total yards and two touchdowns, but he didn't fumble once, which was a huge problem for him in the past. His injury furthered the need for more depth at the running back position. That need was answered when LeGarrette Blount came back after being released by the Steelers.

Even though Ridley is in New York now, he still considers many Patriots friends.

“I’m sitting here watching the TV just like ya’ll are,” Ridley said. “I love those guys over there — it’s a rivalry, Jets-Patriots and all that. But the truth of the matter is, they gave me my first shot in the NFL, so I’m not going to badmouth anybody, I’m not going to say anything that I don’t know firsthand, and I’m going to let them deal with their own issues.”

While his comments are vague, he doesn't paint the Patriots in a negative light like so many others have.

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