Robert Kraft says Calvin Ridley's "girlfriend wanted to be in the South"

BOSTON -- When a free agent is choosing his next playing home, there are numerous factors to weigh. The money is, of course, everybody's primary focus. Then there's the appeal -- or lack thereof -- of the roster that the player would be joining, as well as various geographic elements that could be considered pros or cons, depending on the individual.

And with Calvin Ridley opting to sign with the Tennessee Titans over the New England Patriots in free agency despite comparable monetary offers, many have wondered if the Patriots' roster and coaching situation is too unappealing to draw in free agents.

On Tuesday morning, though, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said that Ridley's decision was personal.

"It was not because of finance. He made clear his girlfriend wanted to be in the South," Kraft told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando. "And we had a situation where the taxes were like, almost 10 percent higher [in Massachusetts, compared to Tennessee]. We offered, or were willing to keep going at that premium, but he didn't want to be in the Northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation, as well."

Ridley is actually married with a daughter. He grew up in Florida, played collegiately at Alabama, and has played in Atlanta and Jacksonville in his two NFL stops prior to hitting free agency. Ridley's wife grew up in Alabama. Moving to Nashville is certainly a step toward the north, but it is easy to see how it can be viewed as a less significant departure from the South.

And while Kraft indicated that the Patriots' unknown quarterback situation might have factored in to Ridley's decision, the life change that would have been necessary for Ridley to move his family to New England seems to have been the larger consideration at play.