Dante Ridgeway

Dante DeAndre Ridgeway (born April 18, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ball State Cardinals and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft.

Ridgeway was also a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Peoria Pirates, and Chicago Rush.

Early life Ridgeway attended Douglas MacArthur High School.

National Football League Ridgeway was selected in the sixth round (192nd overall) of the 2005 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams and on July 27, 2005, he signed a three-year contract with the Rams. However, on August 30, he was waived by the Rams. He was claimed off of waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals the next day, however, he was waived just four days later. He was then claimed off of waivers by the New York Jets on September 4, 2005.

Ridgeway was on the Jets' practice squad until he was signed to the active roster on November 8. In his professional debut, Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, he did not record any carries or receptions. During the Jets' Week 11 lost to the Denver Broncos he played on special teams recording one assisted tackle. He also recorded his first career reception, nine yards, and finished the game with two receptions for 26 yards, the second being of 17 yards. During the Jets' Week 14 win over the Oakland Raiders he recorded an assisted special teams tackle. After the season on January 3, 2006, he signed a contract extension as an Exclusive rights free agent.

Ridgeway was waived by the Jets on September 6, 2006. However, he was released by the Saints on August 7, 2007. Then on October 9, 2007, he was signed to the Saints' practice squad.

af2 After not playing in an NFL game for three seasons, Ridgeway joined the af2. Later he was assigned to the Peoria Pirates. However, on March 10, he was placed on the team's refused-to-report list. After reporting, he was placed on injured reserve on May 6. In his af2 debut, he recorded nine receptions for 99 yards.

Personal life At the 2005 St. Louis Race for the Cure, a marathon to help support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Rams players Alex Barron, Zach Bray, Jeremy Calahan, Jerome Carter, Jeremy Carter, Jerome Collins, Clifford Dukes, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Madison Hedgecock, Reggie Hodges, Jamison Vontrell, Matt McChesney, Duvol Thompson, and Ridgeway presented roses to the breast cancer survivors at the finish line.

On November 20, 2007, Ridgeway, along with teammates Mike McKenzie, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Usama Young, Pierre Thomas, Ronnie Ghent, Jermon Bushrod, Billy Miller, Kevin Houser, Josh Cooper, Zach Strief and Jon Stinchcomb volunteered to help hand out frozen turkeys, stuffing, vegetables and corn bread mix to a thousand low-income New Orleans families for Thanksgiving.