Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was away from the team for the better part of the 2021 season due to mental health reasons. Questions swirled around Ridley's future with the Falcons for the remainder of the season and the beginning of this offseason. After the latest news on Ridley, those questions won't just be asked about his Falcons' future. They'll be asked about his NFL future as well. Ridley was suspended by the NFL for the entire 2022 season for betting on games during the 2021 campaign, as announced in a press release by the league.
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. 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.
Per the NFL, the activity allegedly took place during a five-day period, which just so happened to coincide with the time that Ridley was away from the Falcons on the league's non-football illness list this past November.
Commissioner Roger Goodell penned a statement to Ridley, in which he admonished the Falcons wideout for his failure to uphold the “integrity of the game.” Goodell mentioned in the statement about how gambling on NFL games has been considered the most serious of violations, which is evident based on Ridley's strict punishment.
The Falcons wideout appeared in just five games for Atlanta this past season but enjoyed a Pro Bowl-caliber season back in 2020, tallying over 1300 yards on 90 receptions.
Ridley can petition for a reinstatement on or after February 15, 2023, per the league.