The proliferation of sports betting across America was always bound to ensnare some unscrupulous professional athletes.
That happened Thursday when the NFL announced the suspensions of three Detroit Lions and two Washington Commanders players for violating the league’s gambling policy.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport broke the news.
“Sources: NFL suspended 5 players, including Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, for violations of NFL gambling policy,” Rapoport said in the tweet. “Lions’ CJ Moore and Quintez Cephus, plus Commanders‘ Shaka Toney, are suspended indefinitely (at least 1 year). Williams & DET’s Stanley Berryhill are suspended 6 games.”
The details of what led to the suspensions were not immediately clear, though the NFL released the following statement in part:
“The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, including the practice facility. A league review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way,” the league stated.
The NFL world quickly reacted to the news of the suspensions:
Meanwhile the @NFL reportedly expects to earn upwards of $2.3 billion dollars per season DIRECTLY FROM GAMBLING. Make it make sense.https://t.co/nXYDssXps0 https://t.co/KoUArTgoIA
— Jared (@WaterTribeJ) April 21, 2023
https://twitter.com/evoknowsall31/status/1649436473152659460
The Lions, for their part, immediately released Cephus and Moore, according to Rapoport.
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