Why was Calvin Ridley suspended?

Carolina Panthers v Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers v Atlanta Falcons

The NFL suspended Calvin Ridley indefinitely for betting on games of the league. The former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver placed bets for five days in late November 2021 when he left the franchise on the non-football illness list.

This goes against league policy. The National Football League seriously frowns on active players betting on or against their franchises, during and after the season.

The NFL suspended Calvin Ridley to reinforce the league's distaste for conduct that can bring the game of football into disrepute. Such conduct includes but isn't limited to assault, gambling, heinous crimes, and financial fraud.

As much as Calvin Ridley claims that he does not have a gambling problem, the facts of the case prove otherwise, and he will face the music. The fallen ex-Falcon, Ridley is eligible to petition for reinstatement on or after February 15, 2023. The league's top brass will decide whether to reinstate him back or otherwise.

In a press release made shortly after the league decided to suspend Calvin Ridley, the Falcons said they became aware of the investigation early last month, and "cooperated fully."

However, at the trade deadline, there was a new twist in the tale. Ridley was traded away by the Atlanta Falcons to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a maximum compensation of a 2023 fifth-rounder and a 2024 second-round pick.

This will be conditional upon Ridley's reinstatement. That means that Calvin Ridley will have a new team if and when he is reinstated into the league, and there will be a chance to start over in a new environment.

What does Calvin Ridley's suspension mean around the league?

The NFL suspending Ridley proves that the league will not tolerate any nefarious activities of this sort, and they won't sweep such matters under the carpet.

Ridley was a standout player in Nick Saban's University of Alabama team back in the day, and his stellar performances helped him make the league. His talents were obvious, as the wideout racked up 10 touchdowns in his debut season.

Since then, he has totaled thousands of passing yards and a host of stellar performances.

However, the 2021 NFL season was not nice on the budding star, as he just couldn't catch a break.

First, he stepped away from the team to deal with his mental health. Then, the news of his gambling infractions broke out.

Ridley is one of the finest wide receivers in the league. The NFL suspending him for gambling is a statement from the league to other players to avoid going down that path.

Calvin Ridley timeline

Calvin Ridley is a solid wide receiver selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He joined the team and quickly put up numbers that would make most players in his position jealous. He totaled 821 and 10 touchdowns in 16 games as a rookie.

Since then, he kept improving, with the Alabama Crimson Tide alum becoming the undisputed starter at wideout for the Falcons. However, his career has taken an abrupt left turn, with him getting suspended for an entire season due to a gambling infraction.

The Falcons trading Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars puts him on a new team with a shot at redemption whenever the league resumes normal service. Throughout his career, he has amassed a stat line of 3,342 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns in 49 games.

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Edited by Akshay Saraswat