Bill Belichick: 'I was not sending a message to Stevan Ridley'

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has insisted that he was not trying to send a message to running back Stevan Ridley by not activating him for action against the Houston Texans.

The 24-year-old had committed fumbles in three consecutive games for the Patriots and despite being their leading rusher this season, he was inactive for their win at Reliant Stadium on Sunday.

Belichick told reporters: "If I have a message to send to somebody, I'll just sit down and talk to them and tell them what it is.

"That's not a problem. There's no sending a message. You sit down and talk to somebody man-to-man and talk about the situation so that we're all on the same page as to whatever it happens to be and what the direction is going forward."

New England are 9-3 in their season following their win in week 13 and can clinch a playoff place next week.