(Last evening, as we watched a Sunday night game, the NFL had a public service type announcement in support of mental health. We believe, quite strongly, that mental health should be a national priority. That said, what is the NFL [or any league] doing to prioritize treatment for its own athletes? The following article was originally posted in by Chuck Gallagher in March 2022.)
What is the biggest sucker bet in sports? Would you like a minute or two to guess? I’ll save you the trouble: the biggest sucker bet in sports is when a professional athlete bets on his own sport.
Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley, wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons has been officially suspended from the Atlanta Falcons for the coming 2022 season after betting on football in November 2021.
The only mitigating factor in his making any kind of case is that he suffers from mental health issues, and it was during that period (actually a bit before) that he had stepped away from football.
Following his suspension, he announced over Twitter (got to love that social media!) that he bet a grand total of $1,500. He proclaimed that he didn’t have a gambling problem, but I question if he is getting the mental health care he needs.
Why do I say that? Because his message to the world was:
“I’m going to be more healthy when I come back. I know I was wrong But I’m getting 1 (one) year lol.”
Seriously, LOL (laugh out loud?)
Unfortunately for Ridley, no one associated with him is laughing. His bad judgment is staggering.
The bet was called a multilegged parlay. The details of the parlay are irrelevant. What is relevant is that his bets included his own team. Whether he bet them to win or lose is unimportant. It is prohibited and he knew that. He was also betting on NBA games (which is not banned for NFL players).
The league found out about the legal bet through the gambling company itself.
I don’t always agree with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell but today’s statement (March 8, 2022) was correct:
“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…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.”
He can apply for reinstatement, but it will not be until February 2023. Allegedly, he can appeal the suspension, but other than claiming mental illness, I don’t see on what grounds he can appeal. The Falcons apparently know much more than they are letting on, because the Falcons (citing issues) will not entertain trade offers from other teams.
No One is Looking
I’m sure that the bet Ridley most probably placed on football was most probably (in his mind) a “nothing” kind of activity that would be lost in the massive betting activity of the online betting industry. He was wrong as most clueless individuals are wrong. NOT surprising is that NFL “insiders” have rushed to Ridley’s defense. For example, they claim he had no inside information and that he was taking leave from the game at that time.
I disagree. Who better than an active player on leave to have first-hand knowledge? Who can verify and assure that Ridley had no contact with other players?
I have no knowledge, of course, as to the extent of Ridley’s mental illness, but I cannot question the obvious fact that he was so ethically clueless so as to not understand the risks he was taking. Did no one ever counsel him?
My belief is that his career is over. I cannot see how he will ever be trusted by another team. He will be 29-years-old before accepted for reinstatement, should he get reinstated. As is so typical of these professional tragedies it could have been avoided.
Until ethical training is part of athletic training in the NFL the potential for these behaviors is always likely.
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