🏈 The NFL is suspending #Falcons WR Calvin Ridley indefinitely for at least the 2022 season for gambling

[rocknthefreeworld]

What did y'all do before Sears was a store 50+?

That is straight up murder right there.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

What did y'all do before Sears was a store 50+?

Always was in my remembrance....lol

 

[50+yeartidefan]

That is straight up murder right there.

Age envy...!!!!!!!!! Lol

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Yes, it's hypocritical of the NFL to entangle themselves with gambling sites for the money, but what Ridley did was against a very well known rule. I'm having difficulty finding much sympathy for him.

 

[PurlJam]

So he got suspended while gambling on NFL games while he was on hiatus from the NFL?

 

[planomateo]

He was injured as well right?

He bet for the falcons to win. I'm still lost on why this is an issue.

 

[BamaFan334]

He was injured as well right?

He bet for the falcons to win. I'm still lost on why this is an issue.

They are loving it right now because they were like $6M over cap and having to trade him to save money. Now they save his $11M and are in a spot where they can sign a draft class now, with a few other moves, and they can keep him at the moment.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Yes, it's hypocritical of the NFL to entangle themselves with gambling sites for the money, but what Ridley did was against a very well known rule. I'm having difficulty finding much sympathy for him.

I have zero sympathy....for him...any player...all the players...
I enjoy football...so i watch...but for whining, kneeling players...zip sympathy
especially when they violate rules they know are there to protect the sport

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I have zero sympathy....for him...any player...all the players...
I enjoy football...so i watch...but for whining, kneeling players...zip sympathy
especially when they violate rules they know are there to protect the sport

 

[planomateo]

especially when they violate rules they know are there to protect the sport

Lol, please tell me this is sacarsm.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

 

[Justneedme81]

They are loving it right now because they were like $6M over cap and having to trade him to save money. Now they save his $11M and are in a spot where they can sign a draft class now, with a few other moves, and they can keep him at the moment.

Not really... His salary cap get rolled over to next season, so he isn't likely to lose 11 million dollar.

 

[BamaFan334]

Not really... His salary cap get rolled over to next season, so he isn't likely to lose 11 million dollar.

Well for now that's all that matters to them as they get ready for the draft. Just like they renegotiated Julio's contract and Matt Ryan's to make it happen the last number of years. They'll worry about next year, next year. Defer, Defer, Defer.

 

[Davestwin]

I have zero sympathy for Ridley having to face the consequences for violating the rules. I do think the consequences in this instance are severe but the league knows players betting on games would lead to disastrous results. However, as we all learned in basic psychology … for punishment to be effective it must be swift, fair (as in everyone who does it is punished the same and every time it’s done the same punishment is meted out) and severe (as in it has to be of such magnitude to dissuade others in the future from taking the same action). That none of those criteria are met in our current judicial system tells you all you need to know why the recidivism rate of American criminals is astronomical and why our judicial system is so very broken.

To allow Ridley to have no punishment or a suspension for a few games because he bet on the Falcons to win or it was only a parlay or only a $1,500 wager would have opened the door that leads to that slippery slope of relativism and the league wanted no part in that. By their severe actions on this seemingly “minor” offense, they’re loudly stating that any gambling on NFL games will cost you at least a season and your salary.

 

[BamaFan334]

Does the NFL seriously think none of their players have bet on a Super Bowl.

 

[planomateo]

"I'd bet you" owners have friendly wagers with other owners on the outcome of games.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Lol, please tell me this is sacarsm.

Not really...

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I have zero sympathy for Ridley having to face the consequences for violating the rules. I do think the consequences in this instance are severe but the league knows players betting on games would lead to disastrous results. However, as we all learned in basic psychology … for punishment to be effective it must be swift, fair (as in everyone who does it is punished the same and every time it’s done the same punishment is meted out) and severe (as in it has to be of such magnitude to dissuade others in the future from taking the same action). That none of those criteria are met in our current judicial system tells you all you need to know why the recidivism rate of American criminals is astronomical and why our judicial system is so very broken.

To allow Ridley to have no punishment or a suspension for a few games because he bet on the Falcons to win or it was only a parlay or only a $1,500 wager would have opened the door that leads to that slippery slope of relativism and the league wanted no part in that. By their severe actions on this seemingly “minor” offense, they’re loudly stating that any gambling on NFL games will cost you at least a season and your salary.

He's certainly not the only player doing it, he just wasn't smart enough to do it and not get caught. I can promise you there are some other nervous players around the league right now hoping their tracks are well covered. I agree that the stiff punishment is a warning from the NFL to others, as a deterrent.

I've seen a few arguments in different places against Ridley being punished at all. I don't understand that thought process when the rule is spelled out in black and white, and reinforced to teams/players every season...

NFL Personnel are restricted or prohibited from engaging in the following gambling-related activities, regardless of whether such activities are legal:

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 event. This includes betting on game outcome, statistics, score, performance of any individual participant, or any other kind of “proposition bet” on which wagering is offered.

If they want to do away with the rule, then fine. But I'll add, the notion that a player betting on his own team to win, can't have an affect on the integrity of the game seems leaky at best.

 

[rick4bama]

I read he even bet on himself?

 

[OldPlayer]

Wow, I do not see an issue with putting money on the games that you're not playing in. When ESPN, all of the NFL sanctioned talk shows talk about spreads and over/under, that's hypocrisy to the highest level right there. I'm assuming the stock market isn't off limits to Goodell and other owners and executives, right? It's not illegal for traders to invest in the stock market.

All that being said, I don't understand why you do it if you're an NFL guy, or any other professional athlete. Most people gamble to win money and try to get rich or even to win some money to pay their bills. I know I gamble to win extra money to purchase things I probably couldn't get on an every day basis, like say a watch or new wheels/tires, new golf clubs etc. When you already have all of that money, why do it? I could go cold turkey if I was worth millions. Money doesn't excite me when I have pockets full. Everyone is different, but I don't see the point in working so hard for your money, making enough to buy anything, only to gamble it away.

Tell that to Pete Rose