Calvin Ridley’s weekend incident at Nashville International Airport is becoming a little less mysterious.
The Titans star receiver spoke with reporters Wednesday and explained his side of the story that involved a valet — who apparently claimed the wideout broke his finger — as Ridley attempted to get the keys back for his truck.
Ridley, 31, said he did not have the valet ticket for his truck, but showed his ID, a picture and other proof that it was indeed his vehicle that he was picking up at the airport.
“Took my keys out of his hand,” Ridley explained. “Once you don’t have the ticket, you show ’em your ID, you fill out a form. I also showed him a picture. I also showed him more that it’s my truck. My wife and kids was at the top, my mom was at the top. I came down by myself to get it. It’s 11 p.m. at night. They gave me the hardest time to get my truck. I just got my keys, got the registration — they wanted registration.
“I gave him the registration after I got the keys. My wife came down, we got the truck and left.”
When asked if Ridley had cut the valet’s hand, the $92 million receiver said he really didn’t know the extent of any possible injuries that had occurred, but did say that the valet “yelled I broke his finger.” Ridley maintained he didn’t know if that actually happened.
He was also unaware if he was going to face any charges for what happened at the airport.
Over the weekend, the Titans put out a statement that said they’d been in contact with the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority but would not have further comment on the matter. Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters Monday that he had heard the incident stemmed from a “very minor miscommunication.”
Ridley’s third season with the Titans has seen him only minimally involved with the offense. He’s caught six passes — on 13 targets — for 91 yards and no touchdowns. This comes three years after he recorded his second straight 1,000-yard season.
The Titans are 1-7 in Saleh’s first season as their head coach, and their offense under offensive coordinator Brian Daboll — with second-year quarterback Cam Ward — has struggled to throw the ball effectively. Their 272.5 yards passing per game ranks 30th in the NFL.
Ridley, with one more full season on his four-year contract, was asked what his role might be going forward now that he was kept on the roster after Tuesday’s trade deadline came and went.
“Might be the same role,” he said. “I don’t know.”
