- The Washington Times - Tuesday, March 8, 2022

“Hypocrisy.”

That word was one of the most common ones tweeted on Monday after the NFL announced the suspension of Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for gambling. Football fans were quick to point out that the punishment — a one-year suspension for gambling on NFL games while he was not playing with the Falcons — was harsh when considering the NFL now heavily partners with sportsbooks.

NFL simultaneously promoting and tying itself to betting while suspending an inactive player for betting is some grade A hypocrisy,” one Twitter user posted.

“The hypocrisy of the league knows no bounds,” Bally Sports’ Brad Evans tweeted. “‘Integrity’ my a** when the NFL is in bed with multiple sportsbooks. Poor messaging issued by Goodell. Even more comical is how a NFL player can commit an egregious crime and receive a more lenient league suspension.” 

Ridley, 27, was suspended by the league through the 2022 season for placing bets on NFL games during a five-day period in November. When he placed the bets — reported to be parlays involving the Falcons — Ridley was not with the team. Earlier in the season, the wideout had stepped away from the team to focus on his “mental wellbeing” and was placed on the non-football injury list. 

“I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem,” Ridley tweeted Monday.

Some current and former NFL players have also weighed in since the suspension was announced. Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon called the decision by the NFL “trash” and wrote “free Calvin.” Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown tweeted: “Just learn from it and move forward.” Robert Griffin III, meanwhile, explained what the NFL tells players before the season begins.

“Every year the NFL tells the players we CAN NOT BET ON GAMES,” Griffin tweeted. “It doesn’t matter that the league is in partnership with gambling and betting companies. The NFL will always protect the integrity of the game and its pockets. Calvin Ridley messed around and found out.”

Others, of course, used the news about Ridley’s suspension to make jokes. 

“At least Calvin Ridley bet on his own team to win! You know how courageous and bold you have to be to put your hard earned money on the Falcons,” ex-NFL player Charles James II tweeted.

Calvin Ridley bet $1500 and lost $10 million, those are the worst odds in gambling history,” The Ringer’s Rodger Sherman posted.

Not everyone defended Ridley, though, as some Twitter users backed the NFL’s suspension of Ridley to ensure the integrity of the game. 

“I see people painting Calvin Ridley as the victim here…and I mean, come on, we all understand why a sports league can’t allow its players to bet on its games, right? And why it has to come down on a player if it happens? I swear, it’s not that complicated,” NFL reporter Albert Breer tweeted. 

• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.

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