According to Michael Rothstein of ESPN on Monday, the Atlanta Falcons have suspended Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley of Fort Lauderdale, Florida one full year for betting on National Football League games. Ridley had reportedly placed parlay bets on NFL games, including Falcons games to win, when he was on the non-football injury list to address his mental health. Ridley was placed on the list around week eight of the 2021 NFL regular season. It should also be noted that Ridley did bet on NBA games at the same time, and it is legal for NFL players to bet on games in other sports.
What we found out from the NFL’s suspension of Ridley, is that the penalty for betting on NFL games is significantly lighter than the penalties given to Major League Baseball players who bet on baseball over history. Pete Rose, who is the all-time leader in hits with 4256, reportedly bet on baseball while managing and playing. He was subsequently banned from Major League Baseball, and his lifetime suspension is the reason he is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Ridley has played the last four seasons with the Falcons since Atlanta drafted him in the first round, 26th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. In only five games last season, Ridley had 31 catches for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Ridley had touchdowns for the Falcons in a 48-25 Atlanta loss to the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and another major score in a 30-28 Atlanta win over the Miami Dolphins.
In Ridley’s career, he has 248 catches for 3342 yards and 28 touchdowns. During his time in Atlanta, he has clearly been a prime target for Falcons wide receiver Matt Ryan.
