Jacksonville Jaguars

Calvin Ridley is opening up for the first time on his year-long suspension for gambling on NFL games, explaining he was battling depression and anxiety. Still, the Jaguars WR isn't making excuses, flat out saying he "f***ed up."

Jacksonville's new receiver wrote a piece for The Players Tribune on Wednesday ... titled "A Letter to the Game."

"I f***ed up," the 28-year-old said. "I’m not here to sugarcoat anything. In 2021, I made the worst mistake of my life by gambling on football."

Remember, CR was suspended indefinitely for wagering on NFL games -- a huge no-no -- and ultimately missed all of last season.

Ridley says the bets started when he stepped away from the Atlanta Falcons to focus on his mental health. He was battling depression and anxiety, which he says started when he suffered a foot injury. He says his wife was also dealing with trauma from their house being burglarized. So, it was a difficult time for his family.

"I was looking for anything to take my mind off of things and make the day go by faster," Ridley wrote. "One day, I saw a TV commercial for a betting app, and for whatever reason, I downloaded it on my phone."

He says he deposited $1,500 and started placing bets on NBA games, as well as the Falcons, which he says was just his way of rooting for his team.

"I didn’t have any inside information. I wasn’t even talking to anybody on the team at the time. I was totally off the grid," Ridley said adamantly.

Of course, the NFL ultimately found out and threw the book at Calvin ... a moment he calls "probably the worst day of my life." The trash-talking and trolling didn't help either.

"I paid the price, believe me. I’ve seen all the jokes. I’ve seen all the hate," Ridley said.

"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."

But, now the Florida native -- who was reinstated on Monday -- is ready to turn up with his new team in Jacksonville, and he feels stronger than ever, mentally and physically.

"It feels so good to be back home in Florida, where this dream started, with a clean slate," Ridley said.

Calvin Ridley is cashing out of his suspension -- the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver was just fully reinstated back in the NFL after getting busted for betting on games, the league announced Monday.

Ridley was banned for the entire 2022 season last March ... after investigators determined he bet on his own team while on the Non-Football Injury list as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in November 2021.

The NFL said at the time there were no signs the game was "compromised in any way" ... but handed down the punishment to prove it has zero tolerance when it comes to protecting the integrity and reputation of the sport.

Ridley also spoke out at the time ... saying he doesn't have a gambling problem, as he only bet $1,500 total.

The league says Ridley is now eligible to participate in all team activities ASAP ... which means he can finally get acquainted with his new Jags squad.

Ridley was traded to Jacksonville in November 2022 for a couple of draft picks ... but due to the ban, he has yet to suit up alongside Trevor Lawrence.

It might be cold in Kansas City, but Gracie Hunt is on fire ... 'cause the Chiefs heiress showed support for her beloved team by sporting a bikini in the snow ahead of their big playoff game!!

Gracie -- daughter of K.C. Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt -- shared the steamy pics on Friday via Instagram ... a day before Kansas City faces the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round at Arrowhead Stadium.

The 23-year-old was clearly enjoyin' the snow with her Chiefs-themed bathing suit on ... and considering the temps, she threw on some moon boots and a metallic jacket so she didn't freeze to death.

"Thinking warm thoughts and hoping for a Chiefs WIN!❤️‍🔥," Hunt said. "Who’s ready for game day?!🏈"

Of course, Hunt isn't camera shy -- she's been in several beauty pageants in the past ... and was named Miss Kansas USA in 2021. Gracie also finished in the top 15 in the Miss USA contest that same year.

FYI, it's supposed to rain and snow for the Jaguars-Chiefs playoff game, with temps in the 30s.

Uche Nwaneri -- former Purdue and Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive lineman -- has tragically died after he was found unresponsive in his wife's Indiana home on Friday.

He was only 38.

Nwaneri was at his wife's home in West Lafayette -- about 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis -- when police received a call around 1 AM stating the 6'4" NFL guard collapsed in a bedroom.

Unfortunately, Nwaneri couldn't be saved.

The Tippecanoe County Office of the Coroner tells us while the official cause hasn't yet been determined, their initial (preliminary) report indicates Uche died of an "enlarged heart with acute heart failure".

Authorities say there are no signs of trauma or foul play.

The official cause will not be named until the toxicology report comes back in a few weeks.

Tony Khan -- son of Jags' owner Shahid -- issued a statement shortly after the news broke ... saying Nwaneri "forged a strong bond with the Jags fans that's remained to this day."

"On behalf of the Jaguars organization and my family, our thoughts are with Uche's family + friends at this terrible time."

The Dallas native started his football career when he committed to Purdue over Kentucky and Texas A&M in 2003.

He was suspended from Purdue for the 2005 fall semester after breaking his teammate Ryan Noblet's jaw during a fight at practice.

Nwaneri was picked up by the Jags in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL draft and played for them until he was released on March 4, 2014.

He was signed by the Cowboys a few months later but didn't make the final roster cut.

After football, Nwaneri began a YouTube channel called "The Observant Lineman" where he discussed sports and music with his 21,400 subscribers.

He also remained active with his fans via Twitter ... with his last tweet being a tribute to the late Brazilian soccer legend Pelé on Dec. 29 -- the day before he passed away.

Christmas came early for Travis Etienne ... the Jacksonville Jaguars running back copped himself a necklace of his own custom logo ahead of the holidays -- made with 60 carats of diamonds!!!

TMZ Sports is told the former Clemson star wanted to turn his personal symbol into a wearable piece ... so he hit up his go-to guy Ari The Jeweler for the job.

After one month of crafting the new bling, Ari delivered -- right before Christmas!!!

The massive chain and pendant feature Etienne's initials with his jersey number layered on top -- an exact replication of his clothing brand emblem.

Of course, Etienne has a knack for fashion -- he spends a lot of time working on his clothing brand ... which has everything from T-shirts, hats and activewear.

We're told the heavy piece is filled with VVS diamonds and 450 grams of white rose gold.

Unsure what TE put up for the iced-out set ... but we're told something like this would usually cost $100K+.

FYI -- the 23-year-old was drafted by the Jags in 2021, and signed a 4-year deal worth almost $13 million. In other words, he's good for it.

Zach Wilson and the New York Jets were a mess during Thursday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars ... and the quarterback says the fans in attendance had every right to be pissed -- admitting "we don't blame them" for booing.

The 2021 #2 overall pick was the center of criticism throughout the 19-3 defeat ... and after going just 9-18 for 92 yards and an INT, he addressed the fans in the crowd who voiced their displeasure from the stands.

"We don't blame them. We have a very passionate fanbase and they're here to watch us score touchdowns and we're not scoring touchdowns."

"We're not getting first downs, we're not moving the ball. We obviously can't throw the ball. So, of course they're going to be frustrated."

Wilson's bad outing might be the last straw for the Jets ... as he was benched for former CFL signal-caller Chris Streveler in the middle of the game.

In fact, former Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick thinks Wilson's time in the Big Apple is over ... saying on the Prime broadcast the former BYU star has officially lost the locker room.

A flick about the inspiring story of Shaquem Griffin could be coming to a silver screen near you ... so says his twin bro, Shaquill Griffin, who tells TMZ Sports a movie about the former one-handed NFL player is in the works!!

The Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback revealed the news to us out at LAX this week ... although he was mum on further details about the project.

He did say, though, that he would have no problem playing the role of himself in the film ... saying he's got real-deal acting chops!

Of course, the movie would no doubt be amazing regardless of who plays the bros in it ... considering just how special Shaquem's story is.

If you're unfamiliar, Shaquem had his left hand amputated when he was just 4 years old ... but went on to become a mega football star, playing for the Seahawks and Dolphins before officially retiring earlier this year.

As for what he's up to now that his football career is over ... Shaquill tells us his brother is thriving -- becoming a damn good motivational speaker.

New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger will be out indefinitely ... after he suffered a broken eye socket against the Jaguars in a terrifying play on Sunday.

The scary incident happened with 56 seconds left in the first half of NY's game against Jacksonville in Florida ... when Bellinger caught a 13-yard pass and was inadvertently poked in the left eye by a Jags defender.

The 6-foot-5, 253-pound rookie crumpled to the ground in serious pain ... and images from the scene showed he was bleeding profusely from his eye while he was being carted off the field.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll announced Monday that the 22-year-old's left eye socket was fractured in the play, and will require surgery. It's unknown when he'll be able to return to the field.

"Any time one of your better players gets injured, you'll always miss him, but that's why you have players on your roster," Daboll said.

"People are here for a reason. We've said this before. We have to find a way to use our pieces the best way we can. So we have two tight ends, we have a practice squad and we'll try to do the best job we can of utilizing their strengths."

Bellinger -- a 4th-round pick in this year's draft -- has been one of the Giants' best offensive weapons this season, logging 16 receptions for 152 yards and three total touchdowns.

Deshaun Watson is showing regret for his actions as his NFL future remains in limbo ... saying he's "truly sorry to all the women" he impacted.

Watson is facing a massive suspension after being accused of sexual misconduct with more than 20 women ... and before the Cleveland Browns' preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he spoke about the claims made against him.

"Look, I wanna say that I'm truly sorry to all the women that I impacted in this situation," Watson said.

"The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character and I am going to keep pushing forward."

Watson was initially handed a 6-game ban for his alleged misconduct ... but the NFL is trying like hell to extend the punishment.

He is currently playing for the Browns as he awaits the NFL's decision.

"I know I have a lot of work to put in, especially on the field to be able to make sure I'm ready to play whenever that time comes, whenever I can step back on the field." he added.

It didn't seem possible ... but NFL defensive lineman Adam Gotsis has found a way to be even more of a badass -- by getting a sick, 3-foot tattoo all over his back and butt!

TMZ Sports has learned the 6-foot-4, Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher hit up artist JB Tattoos to get an extra-large tat done of a Japanese Hannya mask -- which symbolizes wisdom and good luck.

JB -- who's located in Denver -- tells us Gotsis flew him out to Florida to get the ink done ... and after sketching out the artwork on 9 sheets of paper, the two went to work.

JB says he tatted Gotsis from his neck to his glutes for two, 12-hour sessions within two days ... and tells us the 29-year-old sat like a champ for a tat that ended up covering around 3 feet of his huge frame.

"He was a savage," JB says. "Only minor twitches here and there!"

Cops say Jacksonville Jaguars top pick Travon Walker "lost control" of his ride before he hit two parked cars in a pre-NFL Draft crash ... but they also noted he was wearing a seatbelt and suffered no apparent injuries.

TMZ Sports has obtained the crash report from the April 16 incident in Athens, GA ... and it shows that despite apparently running his 2021 Dodge Durango into two vehicles, he escaped without issue.

In the docs, officials say Walker was driving at around 11 PM "when he lost control of the vehicle and hit 2 parked cars." They noted the posted speed limit in the area was 35 MPH.

The officials in the docs say Walker was "not drinking" -- and was properly wearing a seatbelt. They also said he was not tested for drugs or booze at the scene ... and was uninjured.

Officials released a diagram of the wreck, showing the front of Walker's SUV hit the fronts of the two parked rides in the wreck.

Cops said Walker's car was towed after it suffered "disabling damage."

The 21-year-old spoke about the crash after he was taken with the #1 overall pick ... and he explained to a reporter that it was truly no big deal.

"Just a little fender bender," Walker said. "Nothing crazy. No one was hurt."

It's official ... with the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Travon Walker!!!

Roger Goodell just announced the selection on a stage built near the strip in Las Vegas ... officially making the Georgia defensive end the newest Jag.

Of course, the pick is not a total surprise ... most experts' mock drafts in recent weeks have had Walker projected to go #1 overall.

The selection of Walker marks the second time in two years that the Jaguars have picked at the top of the draft -- remember, Jacksonville took Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence #1 in 2021.

Walker, meanwhile, is expected to be getting after quarterbacks right away in Duval. The guy was a star for the Bulldogs in his three seasons in Athens, recording 61 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble in his career.

He also helped UGA beat Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in January's National Championship ... registering three total tackles and one sack in the game.

Doug Pederson and Jaguars fans everywhere are certainly hoping that kind of production continues in Florida in 2022.

Urban Meyer swears he knew who Aaron Donald was before the Jaguars took on the Rams last year ... blasting a report that said otherwise as "silly."

The 57-year-old former Jacksonville head coach joined Tim May on "The Tim May Podcast" this week ... and dismissed the notion that he had no idea who arguably the best defensive player in the NFL was.

"It's -- you know, I've heard silly things before in my life," Meyer said. "You almost shouldn't even address things like that, it's so silly."

You'll recall, The Athletic reported last month that Meyer was "unfamiliar with star players around the league" -- including Donald.

Meyer allegedly told his staff, "Who's this 99 guy on the Rams?” and, "I'm hearing he might be a problem for us."

Of course, that's a shocking allegation ... considering Donald is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year who's been selected to the NFL's All-Pro team 7 times.

The Jaguars' hiring of Doug Pederson just got two thumbs up from legendary Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor, who tells TMZ Sports he loves the move.

The former Jag -- who played 11 seasons in Duval -- said he believes the marriage of Pederson and star quarterback Trevor Lawrence could yield huge results.

"Sky is the limit," Taylor said out in L.A. this week. "We’re hoping that. Everybody in Duval hoping it.”

No matter what, things can't get too much worse for the Jaguars -- because, as Fred noted, last season under Urban Meyer was a disaster.

In fact, Taylor actually called it all a "comedy," saying, "It was a big circus, man. Things was all over the place."

But, Taylor is hopeful Pederson can turn things around ... particularly because of the success he had with the Philadelphia Eagles.

You'll recall, Pederson and Philly actually beat Tom Brady and the Patriots at Super Bowl LII in 2018.

Fred, however, did express a desire to see teams hire more Black coaches because "they're more than capable" ... but he said he understands that owners are allowed to make the decisions they deem best for their team.

"The number is the numbers," Taylor said. "I mean, you can’t run from that, and the numbers pretty much show there’s discrimination."

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Lerentee McCray was arrested over the weekend ... after police say he flipped off cops and then led officers on a high-speed chase in Florida.

According to police documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, the Fruitland Park Police Dept. attempted to pull over McCray at around 1 AM on Sunday after they say he was going 88 MPH in a 50 MPH zone.

Cops, though, say McCray refused to stop ... and put his middle finger out of his driver's side window before continuing on at speeds of around 100 MPH.

Police say they tried to catch McCray ... but claim he was driving so recklessly and at such a rate of speed, they ultimately called the pursuit off.

But, cops say McCray was stopped about 15 minutes later by the Tavares Police Dept.

Cops say during that stop, McCray was "acting erratically" and was eventually transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation.

Officers say during questioning at the hospital, McCray told them "he did not flick the officer off and he was trying to motion for the officer to continue following him."

McCray was eventually transported to jail ... and records show he was booked on a felony charge of fleeing/eluding police.

He bonded out later Saturday, according to jail records. He's due in court for a hearing on the matter next month.

Cardale Jones believes Urban Meyer will never roam a sideline as a head coach again ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks the former Ohio State headman is done after the Jaguars debacle.

The ex-OSU quarterback -- who won a national championship with Urban and the Buckeyes in the 2014 season -- tells us Meyer's quick firing in Jacksonville shows the game has just passed by the coach.

"It's almost like the term, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks,'" Jones said. "I think [Urban's] ways are a little behind us."

Jones explained he thinks Urban's bristly coaching style and the way he recruits, plus the NCAA's new rules regarding NIL deals and the transfer portal, all make it unlikely that Urban would get another job at the college ranks.

As for the NFL -- it seems pretty clear he wouldn't get a second shot there either.

"I wouldn't say [his coaching style] is outdated, because he was just coaching college three years ago," Jones said. "It's just times have changed."

"And I don't know if he's willing to make that sacrifice and change in his demeanor, his personality, or his coaching style to keep up with times today."

As for the allegations against Meyer in Jacksonville -- ones that involved being downright mean to players and even kicking his kicker -- Jones says he has no idea if they're true. He did say, though, that he and Meyer did not have the world's greatest relationship at OSU.

"Out of my four years at Ohio State, I probably had 10 conversations with Coach Meyer," Jones said. "And that's including hi and bye walking through the freakin' facility."