The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Ridley was skeptical when he first heard the Lions were interested in signing him as a free agent. "Initially, when I got the call from the Lions I didn't know if it was really somewhere that I really wanted to be," Ridley said this week. "But once I got there and I met coach and I met the staff and some of the guys that had rolled over from New England and they're there now, I mean I honestly felt so good."

Diehards Line:The Lions officially signed Ridley to a one-year deal on Monday and plan for him to join Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick in a three-headed backfield this fall. Abdullah ran for a team-high 597 yards as a rookie last year, but battled fumble problems much of the season. Riddick, who tied for the NFL lead among running backs with 80 catches, was used primarily as a receiving option. Ridley said he's open to playing whatever role HC Jim Caldwell has in store for him this fall, but he should add a power element to an offense that finished last in the league in rushing yards last year. Ridley has logged more than 100 carries in a season just twice in his career, with the Patriots in 2012-13. He had a career-high 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012, but had his own fumble problems in 2013 and was a bit player the last two years. In 2014, Ridley tore two ligaments in his knee and missed the second half of the season, including New England's Super Bowl run. He signed with the Jets as a free agent last year, but spent the first part of the season on the physically unable to perform list and wasn't able to crack the running back rotation upon his return. Fully healthy now, Ridley said last year could turn out to be a blessing as he had more time to get his knee right.