Calvin Ridley is opening up for the very first time on his year-long suspension for betting on NFL games, discussing he was fighting depression and anxiety. Still, the Jaguars WR isn’t making reasons, flat out stating he “f***ed up.”
Jacksonville’s brand-new receiver composed a piece for The Players Tribune on Wednesday … entitled “A Letter to the Game.”
“I f***ed up,” the 28-year-old stated. “I’m not here to sugarcoat anything. In 2021, I made the worst mistake of my life by gambling on football.”
Remember, CR was suspended forever for betting on NFL games — a big no-no — and eventually missed out on all of last season.
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NFL Star Calvin Ridley Suspended Entire 2022 Season For Betting On Games
Ridley says the bets began when he stepped far from the Atlanta Falcons to focus on his psychological health. He was battling depression and anxiety, which he says began when he suffered a foot injury. He says his wife was also dealing with trauma from their house being burglarized. So, it was a difficult time for his family.
“I was looking for anything to take my mind off of things and make the day go by faster,” Ridley wrote. “One day, I saw a TV commercial for a betting app, and for whatever reason, I downloaded it on my phone.”
He says he deposited $1,500 and begun positioning bets on NBA games, in addition to the Falcons, which he says was simply his method of rooting for his group.
“I didn’t have any inside information. I wasn’t even talking to anybody on the team at the time. I was totally off the grid,” Ridley stated adamantly.
Of course, the NFL eventually discovered and tossed the book at Calvin … a minute he calls “probably the worst day of my life.” The trash-talking and trolling didn’t assist either.
“I paid the price, believe me. I’ve seen all the jokes. I’ve seen all the hate,” Ridley stated.
Some Calvin Ridley highlights for #Jaguars fans. Legitimate controling receiver. Fantastic path runner. Great hands. Fast.pic.twitter.com/ZRFjKqPr4A
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) November 1, 2022
@Demetrius82
“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.”
But, now the Florida native — who was restored on Monday — is all set to show up with his brand-new group in Jacksonville, and he feels more powerful than ever, psychologically and physically.
“It feels so good to be back home in Florida, where this dream started, with a clean slate,” Ridley stated.
“Football saved my life. It’s still my purpose. I still love it, maybe now more than ever.”