On Monday, the NFL announced that it had suspended Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley from the league for a period of one year due to Ridley betting on NFL games in the 2021 season. Per the NFL’s statement, Ridley’s bets took place during a five-day period in late November, 2021, when Ridley was away from the team’s facility on the league’s non-football illness list.
The league investigation revealed no instances in which Ridley used any inside information on any of his bets (which reportedly included bets on the Falcons), nor was there any evidence of staff, coaches, teammates, or any other players of Ridley’s gambling activity.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote this to Ridley in the letter notifying him of the suspension:
“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. 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.
“For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction. In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.”
Ridley becomes the fifth player in pro football history to be suspended for gambling while an active player, along with Paul Hornung and Alex Karras in 1963, Art Schlichter in 1983, and Josh Shaw in 2019.
“We were first made aware of the league’s investigation on Feb. 9,” the Falcons said in a statement. “We have cooperated fully with the investigation since receiving notice and support the league’s findings and actions,” the team 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 has three days to appeal the suspension. His recent activity on Twitter probably doesn’t help his case.
I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022
I couldn’t even watch football at that point
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022
Just gone be more healthy when I come back
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022
That said, where the NFL is now with gambling is a place the NFL has never been before with it, and this gets to some thorny ethical issues. Can the league maintain its status as a paragon of integrity when it’s also raking in money hand over fist from its newfound gambling partnerships?
