Signing Calvin Ridley was 'pipe dream.' Even Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk didn't believe it
No one thought the Tennessee Titans were going to end up signing Calvin Ridley.
This includes the Tennessee Titans themselves.
"To actually have the opportunity to actually consider him was something we had as part of our plan, but in our mind it was more of a pipe dream," Titans GM Ran Carthon said Tuesday.
Ridley was the top wide receiver — in fact, one of the best players at any position — available in free agency this offseason. Despite interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ridley's former team, and outside suitors such as the New England Patriots, Ridley signed a four-year deal to join the Titans, a deal worth up to $92 million, including bonuses.
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Nearly a month after finalizing the deal, Carthon told the media that the agreement came together quickly and surprisingly. He and president of football operations Chad Brinker had a late-day conversation about the plausibility of making the move, which led to a call between Carthon and coach Brian Callahan that night, and a call between Carthon and controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk the next morning.
All of those conversations led to a consensus: Go for it.
Later that day, Ridley and his representatives agreed to terms that brought the 29-year-old receiver to the Titans.
The only problem? One person who probably should've known what was going on wasn't exactly in the loop.
"We’re in the office and we’re having a moment," Carthon said. "This one took a moment. It was myself, Chad, Cally and (offensive coordinator) Nick Holz. We’re high-fiving and bro-hugging and doing all that. So we’re like, ‘Hey, let’s get Calvin on the phone. Let’s congratulate him.’ This is all happening in 90 seconds.
"We call Calvin. We’re congratulating him. We’re excited. He’s excited. And then my phone beeps and it’s Miss Amy. I pick up the phone, and she’s like, ‘Is this true?’ I’m like, ‘Is what true?’
"She was like, ‘Did we just get Calvin Ridley?’ I’m like, ‘What the hell, is it out already?’ "
When the news is surprising enough that even the team's owner doesn't believe it, it's easy to see why the GM is calling it a pipe dream made good.
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Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans signing WR Calvin Ridley surprised even the owner
