According to a report from ProFootballTalk, the NFL Players Association has informed agents via an e-mail that some recent suspensions for violations of the NFL’s gambling policy were prompted by sports books informing the league of their actions.
“I am sure all of you have seen the recent suspensions of players that resulted from violations of the NFL Gambling Policy,” the email to all contract advisors, a copy of which PFT has obtained, explains. “These recent violations involved players placing bets using mobile apps on their phone while at work or while traveling with their teams. This is a violation of the NFL’s Gambling Policy.
“During the NFL’s investigations we have learned that these apps (like FanDuel) are highly sensitive and very sophisticated at tracking, among other things, user location to be sure that the people using the app are not ‘prohibited gamblers’ and/or that the person using the app is in a location where they are allowed to place bets on the app. We have confirmed that some states monitor/audit FanDuel and the other gambling apps to ensure that the companies are in compliance with state law. Further the apps monitor gambler activity. It was as part of that monitoring that the NFL learned of the players using the apps at work in violation of NFL rules. At no time should players open or use any mobile gambling app while at work.”
The Detroit Lions had four of their players suspended on April 21. A fifth player, Washington defensive end Shaka Toney, was suspended for the entire 2023 season.
Detroit WR Quintez Cephus and safety C.J Moore received one-year suspensions, while WR Jameson Williams and WR Stanley Berryhill were issued six-game suspensions.
The most notable suspension is of Williams, who was the Lions’ first-round pick at No. 12 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Williams, who tore his ACL in the finals of the College Football Playoff on Jan. 10 of 2022, missed Detroit’s first 11 games last year recovering from the knee injury.
In six games, Williams played 78 snaps. He was targeted only nine times, making one catch. Williams made it count, though, hauling in a 41-yard touchdown reception in a 34-23 home win over Minnesota. His only other touch came in a 41-10 win over Chicago in Week 16 when he ran for 40 yards on his lone rushing attempt.
According to the Lions, Williams and Berryhill’s suspensions were for betting on non-NFL games. However, they were suspended because the bets were placed from the team facility.
“Jameson takes full responsibility for his actions and is very apologetic to the NFL, his teammates and the fans and city of Detroit,” Williams’ representation, Alliance Sports, said in a statement on April 21. “However, it is important to note that Jameson’s violation was not for betting on football but rather due to a technical rule regarding the actual location in which the online bet was placed — and which would otherwise be allowed by the NFL outside of the club’s facility. Jameson would never intentionally jeopardize the integrity of the game he loves so much and looks forward to getting back to his team as soon as possible.”
Toney has played in 26 games (one start) in his two seasons with the Commanders. He has 16 career tackles, three QB hits, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Before these recent suspensions, nobody had been punished by the league since Calvin Ridley was suspended for the 2022 season when he was still with the Falcons. Ridley has since been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.