Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Ridley suspended for ’22 for bets on games
For endangering the integrity of the sport by betting on games, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended by the NFL for at least the next season.
Ridley won't play in 2022 and there is no guarantee for the NFL future of the player who had been expected to be the Falcons' top target for quarterback Matt Ryan.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday suspended Ridley after a league investigation determined Ridley bet on NFL games in 2021 while away from the team addressing mental health concerns. The league says the suspension will carry “through at least the conclusion of the 2022 season.”
The NFL says the betting took place during a five-day period in late November 2021. Ridley was placed on the non-football illness list following Week 8 last season, which ended Nov. 1.
Ridley wrote on his Twitter account on Monday “I bet 1500 total I don't have a gambling problem.”
He also seemed to take a light-hearted approach to his suspension when he added in another post “I know I was wrong But I'm getting 1 year lol.” He also said “Just gone be more healthy when I come back.”
Ridley defended himself in another tweet when he said “If you know me you know my character.”
A league investigation uncovered no evidence inside information was used or that any game was compromised by Ridley's betting, Goodell's announcement said. Nor was there evidence suggesting Falcons coaches, players or staff were aware of Ridley's betting activity.
This is not the first gambling suspension meted out by Goodell. He suspended Arizona Cardinals cornerback Josh Shaw in November 2019 for gambling on an NFL game. Shaw has not played in the league since his suspension; he missed 21 games of the 2019 and 2020 schedules.
The most famous disciplining of NFL players for gambling came in 1963 when then-commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended star running back Paul Hornung of Green Bay and defensive tackle of Alex Karras of Detroit — both now Hall of Famers.
Each was sidelined for that season, with Rozelle citing bets on league games and associating with gamblers or “known hoodlums.”
Teams begin handing out franchise tags
The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. on Monday, making it a near-certainty that he will play for Kansas City next season while also giving the two sides time to work out a long-term contract.
In an aggressive revamping of their offensive line last offseason, the Chiefs traded a first-round pick and three other draft picks to the Baltimore Ravens to acquire Brown, even though he had just one year left on his rookie contract.
The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday placed the franchise tag on safety Jessie Bates III, keeping him with the team for the 2022 season.
The Bengals had tried unsuccessfully to come to terms on a long-term contract for the 25-year-old Bates, whose rookie deal expired at the end of the season, putting him on the verge of becoming a free agent.
Bates was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft and has emerged as one of the team leaders. He was a key player in 2021 as the Bengals reached their first Super Bowl in 33 years.
Cleveland placed its franchise tag for next season on tight end David Njoku, who once asked to be traded but has become one of the team's top targets and says he wants to finish his career with the Browns.
A first-round pick in 2017 from Miami, Njoku was one of the few bright spots last season for the Browns, who went 8-9 and missed the playoffs amid high expectations. He caught 35 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns.
NFL suspends all COVID-19 protocols
The NFL has suspended all aspects of its COVID-19 protocols, citing recent trends showing that the spread of the coronavirus is declining.
In an agreement with the players' association, the league sent a memo to the 32 teams last week in which it mentioned “encouraging trends regarding the prevalence and severity of COVID-19, the evolving guidance from the CDC, changes to state law and the counsel of our respective experts” as reasons for the move.
Regardless of vaccination status, players and staff no longer must wear face coverings at team facilities, though each club can require it individually. Social distancing signs no longer are required as well. The league eliminated mandatory testing of players and staff, regardless of vaccination status. Testing will occur only when clinically indicated or at the direction of a team physician.
Bills stadium deal may be done soon
An agreement that would commit hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to build a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills is approaching completion, with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul confident a deal will be struck before the end of the month.
Hochul on Friday said many of the issues have been resolved, with discussions now focusing on what she called “the nuts and bolts." One outstanding issue she specifically mentioned was the length of the lease to ensure the franchise's longterm presence in the Buffalo region.
Hochul wouldn't provide any details on what the taxpayer commitment would be for the new facility the state estimates will cost $1.354 billion to construct, except to say: “My priority is to keep the Buffalo Bills here, as well as ensure that we're making smart investments.”
Garoppolo's surgery could complicate 49ers plans
The San Francisco 49ers may need to rethink their plan for Jimmy Garoppolo now that the quarterback has had surgery on his throwing shoulder.
General manager John Lynch said at the NFL's annual scouting combine that Garoppolo initially tried to avoid surgery by rehabilitating the shoulder he hurt during a wild-card win at Dallas. He won the next week at Green Bay before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game.
When the shoulder didn't heal, Garoppolo opted for surgery. Lynch said Garoppolo is expected to start throwing in late June or early July.
“Anytime you have surgery, it's not a minor deal,” Lynch said. “Anytime it's the throwing shoulder, I understand the significance, but it is described as a minor surgery and Jimmy is going to be fine.”
Still, the injury could make it more difficult to deal him — as the Niners seem to have planned. They intend to start Trey Lance this fall.
Seahawks not dealing Wilson
Pete Carroll says the Seattle Seahawks aren't open for business when teams may inquire about the availability of quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason.
“That's commonplace for us to have conversations with teams about all of the players, particularly marquee players, and that's not changed,” Carroll said. “It's been the same every year we've been here so it's the same as it's been. We have no intention of making any move there.”
Carroll was later even more definitive with his comments about Wilson's status in Seattle. While meeting with local beat writers away from the podium, Carroll said general manager John Schneider has given a standard message when teams may call: “We're not shopping the quarterback.”