The NFL has suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for at least the 2022 season for betting on NFL games. In a statement, the league indicated that Ridley’s betting took place “during a five-day period in November 2021.”
By that point of the campaign, Ridley was away from the team, having been placed on the Non-Football Injury List. Personal matters and mental health were cited as the reasons for his absence. By January, it had been reported that a trade of the team’s top wideout was a distinct possibility, though the team publicly declared its intentions of keeping the former first rounder. Knowledge of this issue appears to have played a role in the fact that serious trade talks didn’t take place.
The statement noted that the league’s investigation into the matter “uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way” nor that there was “any awareness by coaches, staff, teammates, or other players of Ridley’s betting activity”. A tweet from Ridley himself indicates that he wagered $1,500 total.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Ridley’s wagers consisted of parlay bets, and that some of those “included the Falcons to win” (Twitter link). Mike Garafolo of NFL Network adds that the league has the ability to “work with their gambling partners to gather information on potential violations”, and that it was through such communication that Ridley was caught (video link).
In response, the Falcons released a statement which says in part: “We were first made aware of the league’s investigation on Feb. 9. We have cooperated fully with the investigation since receiving notice and support the league’s findings and actions. We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made.”
Ridley, 27, can appeal the suspension within the next three days, though he tweeted “I learn from my Ls” in response to the news. Assuming the ban is upheld, the earliest he can apply for reinstatement is February 15, 2023. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero adds that his contract — the fifth-year option worth $11.1MM — will now toll to the 2023 season, meaning the Falcons will gain that much in cap space for 2022.
A member of what was viewed as an underwhelming draft class, Ridley quickly established himself as a highly-productive receiver. His best year came in 2020 (90 catches, 1,374 yards, nine touchdowns), leading to plenty of optimism for himself and the Falcons’ offense. After everything that has happened since, however, the situation has been completely reversed.
“You mean I don’t have to play for the Falcons this year? That’s a W for me.”
-Ridley
Yeah, he just gets to go a year without getting paid until he has to play for them
Whoa…
probably will get a longer suspension than Watson will
U talking about ol crab legs
This is so dumb
Geez… this is automatic lifetime expulsion in baseball. See you later no questions asked.
yes, why dont all sports follow this unreasonably draconic policy…
Yeah…lets have players betting on games. That’ll work out great.
I bet you are no older than 24..25 AT MOST.
Don’t bet too much on it. I know numerous people with this addiction and they are in their 40’s and 50’s. I would bet they would say the policy is draconic as well.
It crosses all age groups.
and it’s especially stupid if you are professional athlete.
FWIW I’m not legally old enough to bet and have no darn interest in it. The issue is enforcement. I’m fine with a lifetime suspension if there was throwing involved, particularly in regards to if said player was actively playing in said game, or for any players knowledgable of the situation playing on that team. Likewise, I would be of the mindset that if said player asked any player on another team they were betting against then that player should not be suspended. The league investigation, however, suggests that he did not have any contact with anyone in regards to his bets, and himself was not playing at the time, so I think this incident is simply not suspension worthy, and certainly not a full-year ban type of infraction, given the league’s suspension policy.
Regardless of your age… In your opinion it’s okay for players to freely bet on games they can change the outcome of?? Go watch lacrosse or some other sport nobody cares about and complain on their threads nerd
I never said freely. My point is if the league believes that he was unable to impact the results of these games then it should not be a problem. Sure it’s hard to know he couldn’t have contacted anyone, but he himself was unable to play, and they don’t seem to believe, based on the way their ruling reads, that he did influence anything. I fully support banning players who throw, but I simply can’t support such an action for just any level of betting.
Totally agree with DS. Are we actually so naive that we don’t believe league executives and owners place bets on NFL games? This is just another example of the hypocrisy that is prevalent throughout the NFL.
He definitely won’t be in the baseball Hall of Fame now.
Pete Rose says, “Hey, wait. What’s this one season crap!”
People forget that Pete Rose accepted the lifetime ban to avoid jail/prison time !!!! He could petition for re-instatement but he agreed to the lifetime ban.
Sounds like he executed that contract while under extreme duress
Pete was the manager.
The only thing that can destroy a successful sports league is a gambling scandal that causes people to doubt the games are real…AND/OR Rob Manfred and his 30 pals.
Fixed games? I think you are referring to the NBA
Well, at least he wasn’t playing at the time. He tweeted that he only bet a total of $1500 and that he doesn’t have a gambling problem, but jeopardizing tens of millions for the buzz of $1500 worth of bets is a pretty big problem. Hope he gets his head on straight during the year off.
I don’t believe that at all. Really don’t. He didn’t just ‘start’ while he was on his down time. The NFL and players as well are probably trying to hide the truth as it damages them both.
Like this dude is so dumb. There’s so many off shore sites, bookies, friends to place bets for you. Why is he ever placing a bet himself or cashing a ticket himself
Is he suspended from the USFL too?
Did he bet on USFL games?
If I ever place a bet on a USFL game, you have my permission to kill me quickly.
Chound- I don’t know. Just threw that out there wondering if he could/would want to play in USFL during his time off from the nfl.
Uncle- I think it’s still slightly illegal. I won’t even ask to be your life insurance beneficiary. That’s how they always seem to figure out whodunit.
so the league that’s recently all in on sports betting suspends a player for an entire season for betting on the league’s games:
“… over a five-day stretch during November 2021 when he was on the non-football injury list while dealing with mental health issues …” with “… no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way … ” nor “… any awareness by coaches, staff, teammates, or other players of Ridley’s betting activity …”
*derp*
He knew the rules, genius.
I wouldn’t bet he knew the rule, but with a lot of stuff he at least had the opportunity to ask someone (perhaps his agent or a trusted veteran teammate).
Depending on the individual, I’m more inclined to give a pass to someone who claims they didn’t know there was a banned substance in that special muscle building concoction than a guy who says “gambling is illegal for an active [non-retired] player? The heck you say!”
I would bet my house he knew the rules. My college baseball coach made us aware every March that we couldn’t partake in March Madness brackets (for money), as it was against NCAA rules. We only had like 6 coaches versus a billion dollar corporation with dozens of coaches and execs?
The makes no sense and was bound to happen given how happily the NFL takes money from gambling companies. So I guess he didn’t get any of Terry Bradshaw’s money. NFL karma!!!
Pass a law that says the NFL can’t take money from draft kings.
He already won the lottery by making the NFL.
Can’t bet on the NBA?
Why bet on a lesser league?
Cuz he would have lost $1500 betting on the NBA instead of, you know, his career. Mainly.
The sports books report on any NFL players that use their service? Makes you wonder if they would do the same for other companies to screen or monitor employees.
This is such a Goodell move. Dude wasn’t playing, he bet on the team he plays for to win (without him), and they were parlays.
What’s next, players aren’t allowed to play fantasy football?
How dumb can you be? Costing himself 100 million for 1500? Stupid!
His last name is Ridley, not Rice.
First off, there are so many ways Ridley could have bet on games and not been caught so easily, if at all. It makes me think that he’s either not too bright, or that this is the so-called “cry for help” or “reaching your bottom” moment that some addicts need to reach before they can seek the help they need. Just speculation from me.
Second, if you’re an athlete l, you just don’t bet on your own sport. Period, end of discussion. The fact that the NFL is allowing more and more gambling from fans is not relevant to the fact that a football player simply cannot bet on football games. Sometimes it’s not whether or not you’re guilty, it’s whether you create an environment where you look guilty.
Not too bright? This is an NFL player we’re talking about here.
Anyone who doesn’t understand why this rule is important..is stupid. Period.
Read the comments here. There are a lot of stupid people.
Please let us all know why it is so important for a guy who isn’t playing to not bet on football.
If he was playing, that would be different. Also if he was betting against his team. Obviously he wanted the Falcons to win, aside from the money.
…and if you say ‘Integrity’ I dare you to state an example of how the NFL has any.
Maybe he can work for Brent Musberger
Seems excessive
Art Schlichter
If you don’t know that name, you may want to look it up.
Josh Shaw was suspended for 2020 for doing the exact same thing, Ridley will not win this battle.
$1500? At his income level? Are you serious?
Ridley’s the only one who bets? Are you serious?
Happening all throughout all sports, like it or not. Like drug abuse (of all types. legal. illegal. everything in between) just assume it’s happening, move on from there.
Hypocritical. As the NFL associates itself with gambling companies
Well, they associate with alcohol makers too, but I haven’t seen any players tipping back beers on the sidelines.
If anyone actually believes Ridley is the only player, executive, team employee, etc., who wagers on NFL games…they are a born delusional fool.
The only way he should be suspended is if he was betting on the Falcons to lose and he was playing. Where’s the common sense?
well, ATL is a hell hole, so he is just fitting in. LETSGOBRANDON!