The NFL announced on Monday that Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley is suspended indefinitely -- at least through the 2022 season -- for placing bets on league games while away from the team in 2021. According to a statement from the NFL, Ridley gambled across a five-day stretch in November, and his parlay bets did involve the Falcons.
Following the NFL's announcement, Ridley admitted to gambling, saying in a tweet, "I don't have a gambling problem," and he bet $1,500 in total. The NFL said its investigation into the situation showed no evidence that Ridley used insider information or "any game was compromised in any way." The Falcons' staff and players also had no knowledge of Ridley's betting, per the league.
"This is a nightmare for the NFL. I'm not saying that gambling money is going away and everyone who could possibly be compromised is, but this has got to be a nightmare for them," Maggie Gray said during the Maggie and Perloff show on Monday. "This is a deterrent. This is the NFL trying to send a strong message here... The integrity of the game is the most important thing that they have, so to send a message with a strong punishment is justified."
"A year for betting $1,500 on a league that has partners in gambling? I've got to see more details, but it seems like a lot," Andrew Perloff said. "I don't think [the punishment] is justified. I think that a year is too much. If you're walking through the MGM Grand on a Sunday, and watching eight million FanDuel and DraftKings commercials, and the league is pushing gambling at you with all of its might and you bet $1,500, I feel like a year seems strict to me."
The Falcons also released a statement, saying that they were made aware of the NFL's investigation in early February and the franchise is "moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made." Ridley's suspension is the league's first gambling-related punishment since 2019, and he's also just the fifth player in NFL history to be suspended for gambling.
Ridley, who joined the league as a first-round draft pick in 2018, stepped away from the franchise in late October, citing mental health and personal reasons. He played in only five games in 2021, and prior to the regular season, Atlanta exercised his fifth-year, $11.1 million option for 2022. Consequently, the team has picked up those dollars in cap space, and that money will now carry over to the 2023 campaign. Ridley can apply for reinstatement on Feb. 15, 2023.
Maggie and Perloff's complete thoughts on Ridley's suspension and the NFL gambling dilemma can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.