Tennessee Titans receiver Calvin Ridley ranted at reporters when asked about his dismal performance in the team’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
The Titans made Ridley one of their top free agent additions this offseason, giving him a four-year contract worth $92million.
But Ridley, a first-round draft pick in 2018 out of Alabama, had his worst day yet in a Titans’ uniform on Sunday.
Quarterback Will Levis threw eight passes to Ridley, more than any other teammate, but he finished without a single catch in a 20-17 loss that dropped the Titans to 1-4.
When asked by a reporter about his lack of involvement afterwards, Ridley replied: ‘I had targets in what part of the game?’
When told he had a number of targets in the fourth quarter, Ridley continued to deliver an expletive-filled response.
‘Alright then, so s***, I need some in the beginning of the f***ing game too,’ he said.
‘S*** is getting f***ing crazy for me. It is what it is. I sucked today and I got to be better.
‘But I got to get the ball a little earlier in the game so I can be in the game, and here with the team so I can play well also.’
Levis threw twice to Ridley in the second quarter and turned to the veteran in the fourth quarter with five attempts.
One was intercepted by Julian Blackmon with 4:52 left on a play fans wanted a flag for defensive interference that didn’t come.
Ridley said he was trying to beat his defender while looking at the ball. He didn’t see the safety coming over.
Colts coach Shane Steichen said they knew Ridley was a great player and his defenders smothered the receiver.
‘They were playing aggressive with tight man coverage on a lot of those situations and made big-time plays,’ Steichen said of his defense on Ridley.
Coach Brian Callahan said the Titans can’t win without Ridley making a catch. Ridley did have one rush for nine yards.
‘I’m sure he’ll be the first one to tell you that that was disappointing,’ Callahan said.
‘But he’s one of our best players and we look to him to try to make a play or two and we didn’t get it done at the end of the game. We got to be better all the way around, offensively.’
Ridley, who turns 30 in December, has been targeted 27 times this season.
He has only nine receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown. That play was a 40-yarder that looked like it had been intercepted initially.