Calvin Ridley missed most of the 2021 season after stepping away from the Atlanta Falcons to focus on his “mental wellbeing.”
The star wide receiver will now also miss the entire 2022 season — and potentially more — due to an indefinite suspension handed down by the NFL on Monday. Ridley, 27, was suspended by the league through the 2022 season for placing bets on NFL games during a five-day period in November.
“There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL’s success — and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league — than upholding the integrity of the game,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Ridley. “This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league. Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.”
Ridley’s bets came while he was not with the team and was on the non-football illness list. The league says its investigation revealed that Ridley did not use inside information for his wagers. Also, the NFL said no games were “compromised” and that Falcons staff and players did not know about Ridley’s bets.
Full release on Calvin Ridley’s suspension pic.twitter.com/MXgyZqaJfE
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 7, 2022
“For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction,” Goodell wrote to Ridley. “In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.”
The Falcons released a statement Monday, confirming that the NFL made the team aware of the investigation in early February.
“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,” the Falcons said in a statement. “We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made. With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office.”
Ridley can apply for reinstatement on Feb. 15, 2023. The wideout can also appeal the suspension within the next three days, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Atlanta Falcons’ statement on the NFL investigation of Calvin Ridley: pic.twitter.com/gr3Qc7iqjJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2022
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo also reported that Ridley used his personal phone to place the bets and that the parlay bets did involve the Falcons.
Ridley didn’t release an official statement as of Monday afternoon, but he did tweet several times following the league’s announcement.
“I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem.”
“I couldn’t even watch football at that point.”
“Just gone be more healthy when I come back.”
Ridley, a former University of Alabama star, broke out in the 2020 season with 90 catches, 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. He is now one of five players in NFL history to be suspended for gambling, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The others are: Alex Karras (1963), Paul Hornung (1963), Art Schlichter (1983) and Josh Shaw (2019).
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
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