Former Patriots operating again Stevan Ridley hasn’t forgotten about his welcome from Invoice Belichick when New England chosen him within the third spherical of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Throughout an look on the “Games With Names” podcast, Ridley recalled the ex-Patriots coach placing him in “fat camp” as a result of “I was overweight” as an NFL operating again.
“I guess we’ll start with how Bill put me in fat camp,” Ridley advised host Julian Edelman, a former Patriots wideout and his teammate from 2011-2014 in New England — including that Belichick wished him to lose practically 20 kilos after his LSU tenure.
“You might have that assembly the place you are available there and also you’re a rookie and he provides you your taking part in weight and he introduced me into the workplace as a result of I’m going into the load room and [former Patriots strength coach Harold] Nash mentioned, ‘Hop on the scale, Ridley.’ I hopped on the dimensions and I’m about 235-238 kilos. I performed at LSU round 230 as a operating again — eight kilos is quite a bit, bro.
“… I think I was tipping that thing between 235 and 240 pounds… I’m a big back. Hey, I obviously did something right because coach, you drafted me, you like what you saw.”
Ridley recalled Nash telling him “you got some work to do” to satisfy Belichick’s demand of 220 kilos.
“How? I said, ‘You’re tripping, bro.’ I said nah,” Ridley recalled. “[Nash] said ‘don’t ask me, I’m telling you what the boss man said.’”
Ridley mentioned he then went to Belichick’s workplace to satisfy with him.
“I’m not really as scared… I’m naive… I’ll go to talk to Bill,” Ridley mentioned, laughing. “… I walked in and mentioned coach I would like to speak to you about this weight… and I’m simply ensuring that is the suitable weight.
“… I mentioned [220] is inconceivable…I’ll bust my ass and do no matter, however can I simply let you know slightly one thing about me… I pulled out my driver’s license.
Ridley defined that “I was 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds” since he received his driver’s license and this allow.
“He kinda smacked his lips and mentioned, ‘well Rid, I mean, really I think it’s solely about $563 per pound, per day that you just’re chubby so it’s actually as much as you.
“… He was like, ‘per pound, per day, and he doubled down on it.
Ridley mentioned he agreed to go to “fat camp” as a result of “I ain’t got money like that” on the time.
Ridley defined that it required him to alter his food plan with assist of a nutritionist and run earlier than apply, together with different construction and self-discipline in his coaching. He added that he was blissful he “got on board” with this system as a result of he was “quick as a cat” after it.
“You get to New England and of course you’re going in there and it’s Bill Belichick — Bill is intimidating,” he mentioned of now-UNC soccer coach. “You gotta give it to him. He knows what he’s doing, he has a system in place. You don’t mess with him. You respect him.”
Ridley had 1,263 yards dashing and 12 touchdowns in 2013.
Ridley was a part of the Patriots group that beat the Seahawks within the Tremendous Bowl within the 2014 season, regardless of struggling a season-ending knee harm in October.
The Patriots opted to not convey again Ridley throughout free company in 2015. He signed with the Jets and briefly hung out with the Lions, Colts, Falcons, Broncos, Vikings and the Steelers.
He retired after taking part in the 2018 season with the Steelers.
