The next time we see Calvin Ridley, he could be in a different uniform. While the Falcons are still holding out hope that the receiver will eventually return to the team, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo believes a trade could be in the cards (Twitter link).
The wideout announced in late October that he’d be stepping away from football to deal with his mental health. Nothing has really changed since that time, and according to Garafolo, there hasn’t been a whole lot of communication between Ridley’s camp and the Falcons organization. Eventually, the Falcons are going to need to touch base with Ridley and figure out whether his return is realistic.
Ultimately, a fresh start could end up being the preferred option for Ridley. Per Garafolo, while the receiver has no ill will towards the team, he’s dealing with personal things that could (somewhat) be remedied by getting traded elsewhere.
The 2018 first-round pick emerged as one of the NFL’s top wideouts in 2020, finishing with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. This was going to be a pivotal year for the former first-round pick. The Falcons picked up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option but have not yet signed him to an extension. The team also traded Julio Jones to the Titans, firmly establishing Ridley as Atlanta’s No. 1 wideout.
His numbers were a bit underwhelming through the first four games, with Ridley hauling in 27 catches for 255 yards and one touchdown. Since that time, he’s only seen time in one game, when he caught four passes for 26 yards and one touchdown.
Eagles
100%
Would be nice, but Philly needs to protect themselves by making the compensation conditional.
Ridley must be trying to get away from an ex lol. Kinda f’d up to make it seem like a legitimate mental health issue though.
So you’re basing your conclusion on your own complete speculation and then laughing about it? Talk about being f’d up…
You know what, you’re right. I sincerely apologize to Mr. Ridley and hope he finds the mental peace he seeks. If a trade will help, may he find the best situation for him.
This has nothing to do with this article, But exactly WHO had the idea for a playoff game to be played in Buffalo AT NIGHT? IN JANUARY!!!! That person has to be fired immediately.
It’s football. Shut up and play.
I’ll try to address both here. First, it’s not a surprise if you’re going to play the game there in January anyway that you’d play at night as long as there isn’t a blizzard. Patriots vs Bills is more of a primetime draw than Raiders vs Bengals. There’d be no doubt about playing a game at night in January in the frozen tundra in Green Bay. This isn’t much different.
Second, I’d love to see Calvin Ridley on the Jets but I’m not sure the New York market would be the solution to his problems. The team psychologists and doctors could help with that, though. The Jets have some draft capital to offer.
Yeah great call on the game. I turned the Bills-Pats game off after 4 minutes of the 1st Quarter. Fantastic analysis on which game would be more entertaining. You must be on the NFL scheduling committee.
As a Jets’ fan, I have no issue with the Bills romping over the Patriots. I was just saying those two teams have more of history and would be a greater draw. I’m not Nostradamus and couldn’t have predicted what happened.
It should make for an interesting game though! For viewers at least . . . who doesn’t want to watch the Bills and Patriots play . . . at night in the freezing cold? Sounds like awesome settings to me.
@unclemike1525. Bad playoff scheduling is becoming more common place. The Bucs should be in that Saturday prime time slot with the Bills playing host at 1pm ET Sunday.
The weather Sunday in Buffalo is literally going to be no better than it was last night. Bills Patriots is by far a bigger draw than Buccs Eagles
Well let’s see
Blame Buffalo for getting a home game
Blame the NFL for it being the best game Saturday — resulting in the prime time time slot
Blame the entire history of the NFL for playoffs being in January
Blame whoever founded a team in Buffalo to begin with
Using mental health issues as an excuse is complete BS. Quitter, failure, and loser. “oh I don’t like Atlanta so I’ll lie about my mental health to play again…’
And are you basing this on something other than your weird need for an excuse to bash a guy?
I didn’t use mental health as an excuse to quit my job; he did. If he plays next year, it makes a mockery over the actual issue.
What qualifies you to say it’s an empty excuse and not a valid reason? Do you make the same assumption about Lane Johnson’s absence and return or do you get to pick and choose which total strangers’ mental health issues are real?
Not at all… Hopefully his mental well-being improves so he can return to play the game I’m sure he loves.
I feel bad for the people in your life if you’re this insensitive irl.
Where is your proof he has mental health issues? Just his word, against mine on the subject?
Your word is clearly just you having an axe to grind. There is absolutely no substance to your claims, whereas Calvin Ridley has inside knowledge on Calvin Ridley. It’s *possible* he’s lying, but your claim isn’t coming from any evidence whatsoever.
What axe? Never met the guy. But using mental health issues for a trade is disgusting & there’s plenty of articles suggesting a ‘new environment will be good for him….’ Blah. Like you, I would like to see the evidence from his side. He’ll cover it up, play for a few more years, then blame the leagues for CTE. So easy to see.
I actually don’t need to see evidence from him. Why do you? And why are you acting like him faking CTE is some big likelihood? You’re presuming the worst about a stranger for some unclear reason–so yeah, that seems like an axe to grind.
So you’re comfortable w/ a NFL player playing again when dealing with brain injuries (according to the player)? I’m not. Help him and remove him from a violent sport.
There is absolutely no way you hold all players to the standard you’ve concocted for Ridley.
How many other players quit on their team for mental health issues? In all truthfulness, if he has real mental health issues, the NFL is not suited for him. It’s a physical sport & brain damage is a fact. Too many to list over brain injuries.
But I’ll wager a buck, he’ll gladly accept a trade and make this look like the scam it is.
If he was really concerned, he would have retired by now. Don’t you think A Blank wouldn’t help out by now?
Every time a player walks away for health reasons, mental or physical, I see people like you trashing them, and all I can think is how guys like you don’t deserve the things football players do for your entertainment.
I’ve never trashed the guy. I said retire. Is that now considered trashing? A Blank and Home Depot have spent 100’s of millions to all sorts of charities. But now he’ll turn his back on a 1st round pick? Heck he even supported M Vick AFTER incarceration & full on embarrassment. But I’m at fault for calling him out?
You called him a “Quitter, failure and loser”, which to most people constitutes trashing a guy. Just because it’s an issue you maybe can’t see, that doesn’t make it a non-issue. Mental health is no less serious than a torn ACL- perhaps more serious, even.
You callously say “retire”, but why should he have to if a change of scenery could help? If the Falcons are agreeable -and I’m sure they’d like something for him- that helps everyone.
As always in these debates, neither side has any proof. But if he accepts a trade & does all the camps and play next season; then he did a disservice to people with real mental health issues.
Ridley talking about Ridley is more proof than you making up terrible accusations based on nothing. Feel free to read your own comments before you try to play innocent.
You know I’m a Bears fan and they drafted his brother. The Bears always questioned the brothers commitment and work ethic the whole time he was there. I thought they really found a nugget in the later rounds. But they just cut him loose and let’s face it, We are talking about Pace and Nagy here. So I’m curious if it’s a family thing or a if things aren’t going my way thing or what? Anyway, I never saw the brother even catch on anywhere else and in a league where there is always a GM who thinks he can fix anybody, Why not? I have no idea why anyone would want a guy who quit on a team, but then there’s Antonio Brown and others like him. It seldom works, but they they keep on trying again and again.
You’re one of the most ignorant people I’ve ever seen on this app and I’ve been here for half a decade
“Yeah let’s bash this dude who got into a professional sport”
— the dude with a job that pays less than $60k a year
Why would anyone trade anything for him?! That should be the main takeaway. I wouldn’t want that guy anywhere near my franchise until he clearly worked through his mental health issues..and probably still after that. No thanks.
People still expect Ben Simmons to be traded for a serious return. What’s the difference?
I would think that any team trading for Ridley would be made fully aware of his situation beforehand. Since we don’t know what the issue is, IMO it’s not for us to say whether his issues need to be “worked through” before he is dealt.
Pretty bleak outlook for the Falcons. When Russell Gage is your top WR, you know you’re in trouble. Combined with no legitimate plan to replace Matt Ryan, Atlanta is in serious trouble.
In fairness, Pitts looks like he can be a mighty fine WR1, even if he’s technically listed as a TE.