Calvin Ridley Letter

Nice read. It's refreshing to see someone own up to their mistakes and try to right the wrong.

I've always been critical of Ridley's maturity and how he has acted. This has changed my perception of him.

I knew he had a rough childhood but I didn't realize it was that bad.

The Falcons lying to him about a broken foot and getting him hooked on painkillers to keep him on the field presumably so people could try to hang onto their jobs is so completely on brand for Atlanta pro sports too.


Also, I'd love to get a candid response from some higher up at NFL headquarters justifying how a $200 bet on a parlay by a player who is away from football is worthy of a longer suspension than dozens of sexual assaults. None of this "integrity of the game" bullshite. An actual answer. I'm not even saying he shouldn't have been punished. He should have been. But if Ridley's actions are worthy of a one year suspension, Happy Ending should have caught a lifetime ban.

This isn't only Atlanta. The entire environment of the league is built thus way.

Entire environment is toxic and honestly speaking without God and good family you're screwed

quote:

---

This isn't only Atlanta. The entire environment of the league is built thus way

---

Pushing injured players to take a pill, get a shot, and play through the pain or lying to injured players about the extent of their injury in order to more easily convince them to take a pill, get a shot, and play through the pain? Because while I'm not exactly a fan of the former, these guys are grown ups and it's their choice at the end of the day. The latter is completely unacceptable and disgusting under any circumstances though.

Never said it's not a choice being made. I put it like thus, I was dehydrated and almost died, yet refused and IV and medical help because I was scared when the team found out they would release me.

The entire culture is toxic and fricked up. I get people love the glamorous part and think every player is living the life like Tom Brady but that isn't the reality.

It's basically high risk contract work. Most won't complain too much because in the end as you said everyone knows what they're signing up for.. however there is no love; from the fans to the owners.

quote:

---

Also, I'd love to get a candid response from some higher up at NFL headquarters justifying how a $200 bet on a parlay by a player who is away from football is worthy of a longer suspension than dozens of sexual assaults. None of this "integrity of the game" bull shite. An actual answer. I'm not even saying he shouldn't have been punished. He should have been. But if Ridley's actions are worthy of a one year suspension, Happy Ending should have caught a lifetime ban.

---

Follow the money. They didn't crack down on off-the-field stuff like sexual assault until advertisers started to care. They come down hard on gambling because they're in bed with FanDuel and all the casino companies. Gambling is a highly, highly, highly regulated industry. Gambling companies know that sports betting has a sketchy history and is only barely legal in some places. If players are caught gambling on their own games they risk getting the plug pulled by regulators which costs billions. That's why even a minor offense is a year ban, and a major one (like Pete Rose) is a lifetime ban.

Man that was a tough read.....I never really knew his backstory.

Hopefully he is on the road to getting well.