Falcons fans can finally put the Calvin Ridley trade talk to rest as the former first-round pick was suspended for at least the 2022 season by the NFL for gambling on games last season.
Ridley was placed on the non-football injury list back in November, and allegedly was caught placing bets on NFL games later that month.
As painful as this is for a team that was already thin at receiver, Atlanta does get $11.1 million in cap relief as Ridley’s contract comes off the books this season, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Massive news on the suspension of Calvin Ridley, whose contract will toll during his (at least) one-year suspension from the NFL for betting on games. He'll now be under contract through 2023 and his $11.116 million salary will come off Atlanta's books this season. https://t.co/UWlmTkWHFy
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 7, 2022
For a team that is approximately $7 million over the salary cap, Ridley’s suspension does allow the team to have some breathing room financially. The former first-round pick has since tweeted in response that he does not have a gambling problem.
I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) March 7, 2022
