NFL is suspending Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver, Calvin Ridley, for the remainder of the 2022 season. Reports said that he will be out indefinitely until further evaluation from the league.
Ridley allegedly placed bets on multilegged parlays involving three, five, and eight games. All of these took place on his mobile phone while he was out of state. These also included a bet for the Falcons to win in a game. All in all, he had a total bet of $1,500.00 in five (5) days.
“For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction. In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.” – NFL commissioner Roger Goodell towards Calvin Ridley via a suspension letter.
The NFL’s Gambling Policy, Section 2 states,
1. Betting on Football: All NFL Personnel are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet, whether directly or indirectly through a third party, on any NFL game, practice, or other events. This includes betting on game outcome, statistics, score, the performance of any individual participant, or any other kind of “proposition bet” on which wagering is offered.
Ridley was on the sidelines when the betting incident took place last November 2021.
The 27-year-old wide receiver has since admitted his mistakes. Ridley also states that he has no “gambling problem”. He even said “he couldn’t even watch football” during that time. Nevertheless, the league is still imposing sanctions on the young athlete for his violation of betting rules.
Former baseball player and Cincinnati Reds manager, Pete Rose, also had a similar case. In 1989, the league gave him a lifetime ban due to “betting violations”.
Betting games in a sport you either play, coach, or manage is always a violation in any sport. Thus, Ridley should be thankful for his slight punishment.
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