Salary cap ramifications for Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons revealed

We now know how much Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s 1500 bet is going to cost him. Ridley has received a one-year suspension from the league after Roger Goodell found that the former All-Pro wideout was gambling on NFL games. And according to Tom Pelissero, Ridley will lose out on $11.16 million after being suspended for the entirety of the 2022 season.

” 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, ” wrote Pelissero via Twitter.

Ridley’s decision to bet on NFL games while being an active part of a franchise’s inner workings is a big no-no. Unfortunately for the former Alabama Crimson Tide star, not only will it cost him playing time, but a year’s worth of salary. And depending on when the NFL elects to reinstate him, he could lose out on even more than that.

As for the Falcons, the events of Monday are bittersweet for them for the upcoming season. On one hand, they lose Ridley’s service for the season or at least the opportunity to trade him for assets. But on the other hand, Ridley’s $11.16 million comes off the books, helping put the Falcons back under the NFL salary cap.

Ryan Clark on Ridley’s suspension

Ryan Clark, a retired NFL player who spent his career playing for Washington and the Pittsburgh Steelers as a safety, gave his thoughts on Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley and his hefty suspension that was slapped on him Monday afternoon.

“The NFL & it’s leadership are full of [crap]! You can be a full of debauchery, discrimination, sexism, harassment, and evil, but as long as you sign the checks you can investigate your dang self. Then, choose rather or not to reveal the findings. Bet $1500 tho, you know what? Eff it!” Clark wrote on Twitter.

Ridley was handed a one-year suspension for allegedly placing bets on his own team throughout the 2021 season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter gave some more details regarding the investigation the NFL conducted on Ridley. He said the Atlanta wide receiver placed three different bets, all being multilegged parlays. The Falcons were picked to win in all of them per the report, although there was no involvement involved from anyone with the organization.