Calvin Ridley, wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, has been suspended by the NFL through at least the entire 2022 season. The reason? Betting on his own team.
An NFL investigation concluded that throughout the 2021 season, which Ridley stepped away from in October due to personal reasons, multiple online sports bets were placed out-of-state on his own team to win, via his mobile device. Despite online sports betting being legal in thirty of the fifty states, NFL players betting on their own or any other NFL team is strictly forbidden, a facet that was known to Ridley.
In a letter to Ridley, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that “[Ridley’s] actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of [his] fellow players throughout the NFL.” He remains suspended indefinitely from the league, with the earliest date he can return being February 15, 2023.
I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022
I know I was wrong But I’m getting 1 year lol
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022
Ridley confirmed that he placed the bets, but attempted to undermine the severity of the situation. In a series of tweets, he said that he bet $1,500, and that he knows he was wrong, but that he’s only “getting one year.” Despite only betting $1,500, Ridley’s suspension means that he will forfeit an $11 million salary in 2022. In essence, Ridley bet $1,500 and lost $11 million, not exactly a good investment.
“We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made,” the Atlanta Falcons said in a statement. “With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office.” The investigation also stated that the rest of the Falcons team and staff were unaware of Ridley’s bets.
Prior to Ridley’s suspension, it was not even known if he would even return to play in the 2022 season at all, after he left in October 2021. But now, it is official: he will not return in 2022, and it is unknown if he will ever be able to return to the NFL again.
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