ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season.
The suspension announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is for activity that took place while Ridley was away from the team while addressing mental health concerns. The NFL says the betting took place during a five-day period in late November 2021.
Ridley wrote on his Twitter account on Monday “I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem.”
Elsewhere around the NFL:
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Richard Sherman has pleaded guilty in Seattle to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a drunken driving and domestic disturbance last summer. Sherman was arrested last July after police said he crashed his SUV in a construction zone and tried to break into his in-laws’ suburban Seattle home. He has said he was “deeply remorseful.”
— The Las Vegas Raiders have announced new coach Josh McDaniels’ staff. It includes former Giants coordinator Patrick Graham running the defense and former Patriots assistant Mick Lombardi coordinating the offense. Also on the staff are former Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan returning as a senior defensive assistant, Tom McMahon as special teams coordinator and former NFL star Antonio Pierce as linebackers coach.
— The Chiefs have placed the franchise tag on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. The non-exclusive tag means Brown is free to negotiate with other teams but Kansas City has the option of matching any offer. If the Chiefs let Brown go, they would receive two first-round draft picks in compensation. Brown started every game in his first season in Kansas City.
— Longtime Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle has decided to retire. Doyle played in 131 games over nine seasons and caught 295 passes for 2,729 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was selected to two Pro Bowls. Doyle played his entire career in his hometown.
— The San Francisco 49ers have announced several changes to coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff, with Brian Schneider being hired as special teams coordinator and Bobby Slowik and Chris Foerster sharing the offensive coordinator duties. The moves come after the Niners lost several assistants this offseason to other jobs.
— Safety Jessie Bates III will be with the Cincinnati Bengals at least one more season. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Bates after ongoing negotiations failed to produce a new contract. He’ll be under contract through the 2022 season for roughly $13 million as the team continues to negotiate a long-term deal with him.
— Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has paused construction on the team’s $800 million practice facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina citing concerns over a lack of funding from the city needed to complete the project’s infrastructure. The practice facility was set to open in 2023.
— The Cleveland Browns have used a franchise tag for next season on tight end David Njoku, preventing him from hitting the free agent market. The Browns believe the first-round pick in 2017 can produce even more and have spoken to his agent about a long-term contract.
