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Patriots Blog: The End Of The Ridley Era In New England?

HOUSTON (CBS) -We may have reached the end of the Stevan Ridley era here in New England, as the third-year back is a healthy scratch for today's game in Houston.  

Ridley is obviously New England's best pure runner, but his struggles holding onto the football have become too great to risk him on the field.

I would usually say the Patriots are giving Ridley some time to think about his struggles, but I just don't think so.  The Texans are the number-one team against the pass, so this would have been the game to give Ridley the ball to get him going. But that isn't the case today.

Brandon Bolden and LeGarrette Blount and Shane Vereen will get a the bulk of the load and if that goes well, that could be the three going forward.

Ridley may get another chance over the final four weeks of the season, possibly in a very limited role. But if he does see the field, he MUST hold on to the football. Otherwise, the Patriots will move on from him and look for another premiere back this off-season.

Patriots GameDay: Reid, Reiss On Inactive Ridley: 

Follow Levan Reid on Twitter @LevanReid.

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