Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for at least the 2022 season after gambling on games in 2021. Last season, Ridley stepped away from football on Halloween, saying he needed to get his personal life in order.
Ridley said he bet $1,500 total and that “I don’t have a gambling problem.” He also tweeted that he couldn’t even watch football at the time he made the bets. He added that he’s just going to “be more healthy when I come back” and that “I know I was wrong But I’m getting 1 year lol.”
Not many are upset with him, in fact, there was a viral tweet on Twitter that truly points out the hypocrisy of an NFL player being suspended for gambling while people in politics can legally bet through the stock market on every decision they make as well as inside information they receive.
How the comments looked:
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The NFL determined that Ridley placed multilegged parlay bets involving three, five and eight games that included the Falcons to win via his mobile device out of state.
The NFL said its investigation uncovered no evidence that Ridley used inside information or “that any game was compromised in any way.” There also was no evidence that any of the Falcons’ coaches, staff or players were aware of his betting activity.
“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.”
The earliest Ridley can apply for reinstatement is Feb. 15, 2023, the NFL said.
