Why was Calvin Ridley suspended for a year by the NFL?
Calvin Ridley has been fully reinstated by the NFL this week, after being suspended for a year for violating the league’s regulations on gambling.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been fully reinstated by the NFL after a year-long suspension for violating the league’s policy on gambling. He applied for reinstatement in February, immediately after he became eligible to do so.
Ridley wrote about what he went through for The Players’ Tribune, admitting his mistake and speaking about life experiences and troubles he had had leading up to the suspension.
Calvin Ridley: ‘I f---ed up’
“I’m not here to sugarcoat anything. In 2021, I made the worst mistake of my life by gambling on football,” he said.
“I paid the price, believe me. I’ve seen all the jokes. I’ve seen all the hate. And I can shoulder all of that, no problem. All I want is for people to understand that, when I made those bets, there was a hell of a lot more going on with me.”
Ridley was suspended last year when he was still playing for the Atlanta Falcons. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had announced they were punishing the receiver for betting on league games. The gambling took place while Ridley was away from the team to address his mental health issues.
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Jacksonville takes a chance on Ridley
Jacksonville acquired the wideout from Atlanta during the suspension in exchange for two future draft picks. They are ready to welcome him into the fold, as he is now permitted to join all the team’s activities. Ridley’s reinstatement comes a little over a month before the Jaguars begin their voluntary offseason program.
The franchise expressed their excitement at having Ridley join them in the coming season, and are eager to see his contributions in their campaign to win the Super Bowl.
“We look forward to building a relationship with Calvin as both an individual and as a player,” the Jaguars said in a statement.
“Calvin is a proven playmaker and we are excited to see him compete among and with his new teammates, first during our offseason program in April and ultimately into the 2023 season, as we collectively pursue a championship for Jacksonville.”