Atlanta was hopeful to get Ridley back for the 2022 season. However, he will remain sidelined thanks to a suspension levied by the NFL on Monday afternoon.
The NFL has suspended Ridley indefinitely after discovering that he bet on games during the 2021 NFL season. As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports, the league confirmed with its betting partners that Ridley bet on several NFL games using his phone during a five-day stretch in November.
Ridley was not playing for the Falcons at the time that he made the bets, but he will still face harsh punishment for his actions.
Here’s everything to know about Calvin Ridley’s suspension, including how long he will be out of the NFL and how both he and the Falcons have responded to the NFL’s decision.
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Why did the NFL suspend Calvin Ridley?
The NFL announced in a statement that it had suspended Ridley for at least the 2022 NFL season after discovering that the receiver bet on games during the 2021 season.
In the statement, the league claimed that Ridley bet on games “during a five-day period in late November 2021 while Ridley was not with the team.” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that Ridley placed parlay bets on NFL games using his cell phone.
Ridley was on the Non-Football Illness list at that time he placed the bets, so it doesn’t appear that he bet on any games in which he played. Still, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell condemned Ridley’s actions, saying that he “put the integrity of the game at risk.”
As such, the NFL has suspended Ridley, and it will be a long one for the Falcons’ top receiver.
How long is Calvin Ridley suspended?
The NFL announced that it had suspended Ridley indefinitely for betting on games. He will be suspended for the entire 2022 NFL season at a minimum and will have to apply for reinstatement into the NFL after the season concludes.
Ridley is first eligible to file for reinstatement on Feb. 15, 2023. Goodell acknowledged that Ridley “promptly reported” his indiscretions, so that could bode well for him if and when he does apply for reinstatement.
Ridley also has three days to appeal his suspension should he desire to do so.
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Did Calvin Ridley bet on the Falcons?
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on NFL Now that a source told him the Falcons were one of the teams involved in Ridley’s bets. ESPN’s Adam Schefter corroborated this report and added that Ridley bet the Falcons to win as a part of multi-legged parlay bets.
However, the league “uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way,” per Garafolo.
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How much did Calvin Ridley bet on the NFL?
Ridley claimed that he bet $1,500 total on NFL games during the 2021 season. He made the announcement on Twitter shortly after his suspension was announced.
What else has Calvin Ridley said about his suspension?
Ridley said that he “couldn’t even watch football” at that point in the season when he made his bets. His wagers occurred in late November, which is roughly one month after he stepped away from the Falcons.
As for his reaction to the suspension, Ridley doesn’t seem too worried about it. He’s just focusing on coming back 100 percent healthy in 2023 when he is eligible to return to the NFL.
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How the Falcons responded to Ridley’s suspension
The Falcons released a statement shortly after Ridley’s suspension was announced. They were not blindsided by the allegations against him; they had been aware of them for nearly a month.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported that the Falcons refused to enter trade talks about Ridley out of “good faith” after learning about the allegations against him and forthcoming suspension.
Calvin Ridley contract details
Ridley, a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, was still on his rookie contract in 2021. He signed a four-year deal worth $10.9 million with the Falcons after he was selected with the 26th overall pick in 2018.
Ridley was supposed to play in the final year of his rookie contract in 2022 — a fifth-year option worth just over $11.1 million. However, given his suspension, that term will be deferred until 2023. He won’t be paid in 2022 and will have to wait an extra year before hitting free agency as a result.
Ridley’s fifth-year option is also non-guaranteed. As such, the Falcons could part ways with him without paying him if they decide to trade or release him before the 2023 NFL season.
Below is a breakdown of Ridley’s contract year-by-year, per Spotrac.com.
* 2022 contract deferred to 2023 because of gambling suspension.
Should Ridley play for the Falcons in 2023, his contract will be worth $22 million over his six years with the team.
