Former Super Bowl champion reveals Bill Belichick’s brutal ‘fat camp’ decision ahead of Patriots rookie season

Former Super Bowl champion reveals Bill Belichick's brutal 'fat camp' decision ahead of Patriots rookie season

Former NFL running back Stevan Ridley has revealed that Bill Belichick put him into ‘fat camp’ after drafting him in 2011. 

After the Patriots selected Ridley in the third round of the NFL Draft, he arrived in New England around 20 pounds heavier than Belichick thought he would be. 

Ridley revealed Belichick’s unique tactics on Julian Edelman’s podcast, as he played for the Patriots from 2011 through 2014. He then bounced around the NFL until retiring in 2018. 

‘I guess we’ll start with how Bill put me in fat camp,’ Ridley said. ‘You have that meeting where you come in there, and you’re a rookie and he gives you your playing weight… I hopped on the scale and I’m about 235-238 pounds.’

Ridley was a star at LSU at that same weight and told Belichick he hadn’t been at his new head coach’s target mᴀss since high school. The eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach did not budge. 

‘He kinda smacked his lips and said, “well Rid, I mean, really I think it’s only about $563 per pound, per day that you’re overweight so it’s really up to you,”‘ Ridley added of Belichick’s response. 

Former NFL running back Stevan Ridley has revealed that Bill Belichick put him into 'fat camp'

Former NFL running back Stevan Ridley has revealed that Bill Belichick put him into ‘fat camp’

Ridley arrived to Patriots rookie camp about 20 pounds heavier than Belichick preferred

Ridley arrived to Patriots rookie camp about 20 pounds heavier than Belichick preferred

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Ridley did not question arguably the best coach in NFL history, agreeing to ‘fat camp’ and getting down to 220 pounds while on injured reserve. He did not pay the fines. 

The former NFL star worked with a nutritionist on his diet and took working out more seriously. 

‘You gotta give it to him. He knows what he’s doing, he has a system in place. You don’t mess with him. You respect him,’ Ridley said. 

After graduating from ‘fat camp’, Ridley won the 2014 Super Bowl with the Patriots in his last official game for the team. 

It is unknown if other players had to enter Belichick’s ‘fat camp’ to play or whether the legendary coach has brought the unique measure to North Carolina with him. 

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