The NFL is suspending #Falcons WR Calvin Ridley indefinitely for at least the 2022 season for gambling on NFL games after he left the team last season.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 7, 2022

VIA ESPN Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for at least the 2022 season after gambling on games in 2021.

The NFL released a statement Monday announcing his suspension, saying Ridley gambled on games over a five-day stretch in November 2021 when he was on the non-football injury list to address his mental health.

Ridley stepped away from football on Halloween, saying he needed to get his personal life in order.

In a series of tweets Monday after the suspension was announced, 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.”

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, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Damn. Not the best move when you are an active NFL player. There are two schools of thought to this story.

On the one hand, the punishment is harsh, he was on the IR, apparently, always bet for the Falcons to win and even being an NFL player there is no true distinct advantage you have of trying to predict an outcome.

On the other hand, where there is smoke there is fire. How do we really know this wasn’t going down while he was an active player. In my eyes that is why the punishment is so harsh. The NFL knows something we don’t. I will say the NFL has ALWAYS been super weird with their suspensions. This tweet sums up the hyprocracy.

Major NFL suspensions:

Ray Rice: beating fiancé; 2 games
Adrian Peterson: felony child abuse; 6 games
Greg Hardy: beating gf; 10 games reduced to 4
Ezekiel Elliot: hitting women; 6 games

Calvin Ridley: 17 games for using FanDuel
Josh Gordon: 6 seasons for smoking weed

— Nick Looney (@NickLooney901) March 7, 2022

Apparently, Ridley seemingly did this on a legitimate sportsbook, according to Andrew Siciliano he placed bets on his cell phone. Did this guy seriously sign up using his real name and social security number as an active NFL player?! Wow.

Calvin Ridley responded on Twitter with two ALL-TIME tweets.

I learn from my Ls

— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 6, 2022

I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem

— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022

Doesn’t exactly seem like he is all too remorseful.

Now the internet is breaking down some of his old plays and saying they look a little bit suspect in light of this new news. I mean they aren’t wrong in all these plays he is basically running backwards.

Not a good look. Like I said when there is smoke there is fire. Excited to see how this story develops.