Matthew Judon thinks Calvin Ridley was wronged. The Patriots linebacker reacted incredulously to the news of Ridley’s indefinite suspension for placing three parlay bets on the Falcons over a five-day period last season.
“This is trash. Free Calvin,” Judon tweeted.
The NFL announced Monday it is suspending Ridley for at least the 2022 season for his actions. The Falcons wideout, who was away from the team for mental health reasons when the bets were placed, wagered $1,500 via a sports gambling app on the Falcons between Nov. 23 and Nov. 28.
Ridley pushed back against the league in a series of tweets.
"There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL's success -- and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league -- than upholding the integrity of the game,” Roger Goodell wrote in a statement. “This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league. Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.”
The NFL found out about Ridley’s actions through its relationships in the legal sports betting industry. The episode raises questions about the league’s business partnerships with sportsbooks, which incessantly run ads during NFL games.
Maybe that’s what Judon is referring to when he calls Ridley’s suspension “trash.” He’s probably not the only player who feels this way.