2 days after being completely reinstated by the NFL complying with a season-long suspension, Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley wrote in a post for The Gamers' Tribune on Wednesday that he "made the most awful error of my life by betting on football."" I paid the rate, think me, " Ridley composed. "I've seen all the jokes. I've seen all the hate. And also I can take on all of that, no trouble. All I want is for people to recognize that, when I made those bets, there was a heck of a lot more happening with me." AdvertisementIn the letter detailing his struggles, Ridley created, "At that time, I was dispirited. I was fighting anxiety. I didn't also desire to leave my house. Football was the only thing that ever before offered my life significance, as well as I could not even discover any happiness because at the time. Honestly, I couldn't even obtain up off the chair in my living-room. Everything was simply. dark." Ridley played 4 video games in 2021 for the Atlanta Falcons before the team revealed he would certainly miss out on time to concentrate on his psychological wellness. After missing two weeks, he returned for one game before leaving the team once more and later revealing he would certainly be tipping away indefinitely. In March 2022, the NFL introduced that Ridley would certainly be suspended a minimum of through the 2022 season for gambling on NFL games, including Falcons contests. Ridley recognized at the time that he did bank on video games." I simply f-- ed up. Duration, " Ridley wrote in The Gamers' Tribune. "In a dark minute, I made a stupid error. I wasn't trying to rip off the video game. That's things I intend to explain. At the time, I had been totally far from the group for concerning a month. I was still so clinically depressed and upset, and also the days were as long. I was looking for anything to take my mind off of points as well as make the day pass faster." Eventually, I saw a television commercial for a betting application, and for whatever factor Jaguars Jersey, I downloaded it on my phone. I deposited like $1, 500 total, literally just for something to do. I was going to bet like $200 on some NBA games that night, however then I simply included a bunch a lot more video games to a parlay. I placed the Falcons in on it. I was just doing it to root on my kids, primarily. I really did not have any kind of within details. I wasn't also speaking with anyone on the team at the time. I was completely off the grid." Whenever individuals ask, 'What were you thinking?' The only answer I can give is, 'I had not been.' When you're dispirited, you're not thinking of anything in the future. You're simply trying to obtain via the day." AdvertisementThe Falcons selected Ridley with the 26th pick of the 2018 draft out of Alabama. He had 821 getting lawns as a newbie, 866 in his 2nd season and exploded for 1, 374 lawns in 2020. The Falcons traded Ridley to the Jaguars in November for draft compensation. He was able to petition for reinstatement on Feb. 15. In his letter, Ridley created: "Right currently, I really feel stronger than I have actually ever before felt-- emotionally and literally. On the area, I'm flying. Believe me, I'm flying. I wish to thank the Jaguars for showing faith in me, and recognizing me as a human being who made a mistake." Image: Dale Zanine/ USA Today).