Calvin Ridley writes heartfelt letter after NFL reinstatement: 'I made the worst mistake of my life'

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In the past two NFL seasons, All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Ridley has only played in five games.

The former first-round pick was suspended for the entire 2022 season for violating the league's gambling policy.

In an open letter posted to The Players Tribune on Wednesday, Ridley revealed some of the issues he faced since he decided to step away from the Falcons during the 2021 season. He also admitted that he made a mistake when he decided to place a series of bets on NFL games.

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FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

"I f---ed up," Ridley wrote. "I'm not here to sugarcoat anything. In 2021, I made the worst mistake of my life by gambling on football."

"I paid the price, believe me. I've seen all the jokes. I've seen all the hate. And I can shoulder all of that, no problem. All I want is for people to understand that, when I made those bets, there was a hell of a lot more going on with me."

JAGUARS' CALVIN RIDLEY, SUSPENDED FOR 2022 SEASON DUE TO GAMBLING ON GAMES, REINSTATED BY NFL

The Atlanta Falcons traded Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars in November in a complex deal that involved multiple draft picks. Ridley, who turned 28 in December, shared some of the setbacks he experienced growing up in the South Florida area and how football helped him find purpose.

"Since I was eight years old, I was on my own. It’s crazy but I know the exact date: October 31, 2002," he wrote. "We were having our little Halloween party at