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The National Football League has suspended wide receiver Calvin Ridley for at least the entire 2022 season for betting on NFL games during the 2021 season.
The league announced Ridley's suspension Monday afternoon, saying that the incident took place during a five-day period in late November 2021.
The NFL said that Ridley, who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons, was away from the team at the time. Also, in the NFL's release, they stated that an "investigation uncovered no evidence any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.
After the NFL announced Ridley's indefinite suspension, the Falcons, also released a statement saying they were made aware of the league's investigation on February 9. They said the team cooperated with the league and are supportive of their findings. They also mentioned the team is moving on with preparations for the 2022 NFL season and that "any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office."
The bets, the NFL said, took place in November of this past season while Ridley was away from the Falcons. During this past season, Ridley only played in five games. He stepped away from the team on October 31, citing mental health, CBS Sports said.
Ridley reportedly placed parlay bets on several games, some of which did involve the Falcons, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
Following word of his suspension for gambling on NFL games, Ridley posted several messages on Twitter. He insisted that he is not a gambling addict, stating that he "bet 1500 total." He added that "I couldn't even watch football at that point" and "just gone be more healthy when I come back."
Ridley, in his posts on social media, appeared to take responsibility for the behavior that resulted in his suspension, writing: "I know I was wrong But I'm getting 1 year lol."
The NFL said Ridley would be able to apply for reinstatement to the league after February 15, 2023. The NFL, in their announcement, said Ridley does have the right to appeal the suspension by filing notice within three days.
Ridley, who was drafted out of Alabama in the first round by the Falcons in 2018, just finished his fourth NFL season. For his career, according to ESPN, Ridley has 248 receptions for more than 3,300 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Ridley, however, is not the first instance of an active player placing bets in recent history.
Josh Shaw, while on injured reserve as a member of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, was found to have also placed bets on NFL games, according to NBC Sports. One of the games he reportedly placed a wager on involved the Cardinals. The NFL suspended Shaw for the entirety of the 2020 season and was later reinstated in March 2021.
