Calvin Ridley lacked insider knowledge and an apparent lack of betting acumen. It’s safe to say he’s not the only one who was swayed by the promise of riches from sports betting operators and the leagues they work with to place bets on sporting events. Ridley, on the other hand, is a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Things get a little dangerous from there.
Only one thing remains sacred in the sports betting wild west: Don’t bet on your own league or team.
In the end, Ridley paid the price for doing both. The wide receiver was suspended Monday for at least a year by hypocrite-in-chief Roger Goodell for what he said was $1,500 in bets made while he was on mental health leave from the team.
The stakes were modest, and the crime didn’t appear to be any more serious. At the time he placed the longshot parlay bets, Ridley was not even a member of his own squad, and he was certainly not trying to manipulate any games.
When Green Bay halfback Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games and associated with “known hoodlums” in 1963, this wasn’t the case anymore. With a casino sponsoring Miami Stadium in Florida, Ridley was able to place the bets over the phone.
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