The NFL announced on Monday that it has suspended Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for the entire 2022 season and possibly beyond for betting on games in 2021.
"NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today suspended Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season," a league statement reads. "The activity took place during a five-day period in late November 2021 while Ridley was not with the team and was away from the club's facility on the non-football illness list."
According to the NFL, nothing indicated that Ridley's teammates and coaches in Atlanta were aware of his gambling.
"A league investigation uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way," the statement reads.
Ridley is eligible to apply for reinstatement on Feb. 13, 2023, according to the league. He has three days to appeal his suspension, per the NFL's collective bargaining agreement.
The Falcons issued a response on Monday shortly after Ridley's suspension was announced.
"We were first made aware of the league's investigation on Feb. 9," the Falcons statement reads. "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. With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office."
Ridley admitted to betting $1,500 total after his suspension was announced while writing that he doesn't have "a gambling problem."
I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022
He posted this on Twitter Sunday prior to his suspension being announced:
I learn from my Ls
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 6, 2022
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that Ridley made parlay bets on games using his cell phone and that his bets included Falcons games. ESPN's Kimberley Martin also reported that he bet on Falcons games and that his bets covered "multiple sports."
Ridley, 27, has played four seasons with the Falcons since being drafted in the first round out of Alabama in 2018. He played five games in 2021 before announcing in October that has going to "step away from football" to "focus on my mental well being." He didn't play again in 2021.
“These past few weeks have been very challenging and as much as I’d like to be on the field competing with my teammates, I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental well being,” Ridley wrote on Twitter Oct. 31. “This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future.”
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