Tom Brady Says Stevan Ridley Is ‘Mentally Tough Kid,’ Will Bounce Back From Fumble

A lot of people are pointing out that Stevan Ridley fumbled the ball Sunday against the Bills in a game the Patriots barely won. Tom Brady is making sure to remind everybody that he had a turnover, too.

Brady backed up Ridley, who is expected to be pressed into action again now that running back Shane Vereen is out with injury, as he looked ahead to Thursday’s game against the Jets.

“We fumbled a snap on the goal line. I threw an interception. You have to be able to bounce back from those things,” Brady said Tuesday. “Football is not necessarily a game of perfect. It is just that you try to limit what your bad plays are, so they’re not really bad plays, or really critical plays in the game.”

Brady also had thoughts about Ridley’s makeup.

“I know Stevan is a very mentally tough kid,” Brady said. “I love having him back there. I love giving the ball to him and watching him run.”

Ridley will likely get a chance to back Brady’s words Thursday despite his slippery hands.