WR Calvin Ridley has been suspended at least through the 2022 season after being found guilty of gambling on sports in 2021.
The NFL announced that Ridley had been suspended for five games for gambling while on the non-football injury list in November of 2021.
A few days after Halloween, Ridley said he would be taking a break from football to focus on his personal life.
When Ridley’s suspension was revealed Monday morning, he tweeted, “I do not have an issue with gambling,” implying that he had bet $1,500 total. While making the bets, it was shown that he had no interest in football at all at the time of the wagers. The only difference between now and his return is that he will be “more healthy” and “I know I was wrong, but I’m getting one year, lol.”
Sources tell ESPN Adam Schefter that Ridley gambled on three, five, and eight games that included the Falcons to win using his mobile device out of state.
Sources within the legal sports betting business told ESPN’s David Purdum that the NFL was made aware of Ridley’s wagering habits through their connections with the league. Sources say Ridley wagered thousands of dollars on several sports during five days around Thanksgiving, including the NBA. The NFL does not prohibit its players from wagering on other sports.
A letter from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell alerting him of Ridley’s suspension read, “Nothing more critical to the NFL’s success… and to our organization’s reputation than protecting the integrity of the game,” to the New York Times. Everyone in the league has a role to play here, from the players to the coaches, owners, and game officials.” You put your fellow NFL players’ reputations in jeopardy and compromised the game’s integrity, public trust, and public confidence with your conduct.
“Gambling on NFL games has long been seen as one of the most serious infractions of league policy, deserving of the harshest punishment. Your timely reporting for an interview and your admission of your activities are commendable in your instance.”
“No game was jeopardized,” the NFL stated following its inquiry into Ridley’s alleged use of inside knowledge. Neither the Falcons’ coaches, staff, or players knew his betting activities.
This means Ridley will have to file for reinstatement on or before February 15, 2023, according to the NFL.
Additionally, he has three days from the date of receipt of notice in which to file an appeal against the suspension. Whether he has appealed the sentence is a mystery.
According to many sources, multiple NFL clubs have approached the Atlanta Falcons recently to enquire about a trade for Ridley and each time; they were turned down out of respect for Ridley’s long-term future.
If Ridley is unavailable, the Falcons have declared that they will plan for 2022.
“We learned of the investigation on February 9.” The team said, “We have complied fully with the inquiry since getting notification, and we support the league’s conclusions and consequences. “With the decision reached, we will move forward in the 2022 season. If you have further questions about the investigation, you should direct them to the league headquarters.”