The NFL suspended five players on Friday for violations of the league's gambling policy, including four Detroit Lions players and one Washington Commanders player, with three of those players being suspended indefinitely and two suspended for six games.
The most high-profile suspension is for Lions No. 2 wide receiver Jameson Williams, who is suspended for six games. Joining him from the Lions are safety CJ Moore and wide receiver Quintez Cephus, both of whom have been suspended indefinitely. Both Moore and Cephus have been released from the team, the Lions announced on Friday.
Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney is also suspended indefinitely.
Lions wide receiver Stanley Berryhill joins Williams with a six-game suspension.
Are NFL Players Allowed to Sports Bet?
NFL athletes are allowed to gamble on leagues other than the NFL, if they so choose. Team employees, coaches and staff are unable to bet on sports at all. All of those parties are barred from wagering on the NFL in any way, shape or form.
Each of those parties are allowed to gamble at casinos on table games or slots at will.
In addition, the NFL relies on self-reporting from sportsbooks themselves in order to enforce its policy.
Why Were Some of the Players Suspended Indefinitely While Others Got 6 Games?
NFL.com reported on Friday that Moore, Cephus and Toney — the ones suspended indefinitely — were believed to have wagered on NFL games.
"A league review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way," the NFL said in a statement on Friday.
Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley missed the entire 2022 NFL season after he acknowledged wagering on parlays that incorporated NFL teams. That had previously been the most high-profile case since a 2018 Supreme Court case legalized online sports betting across the country.
Meanwhile, there are no reports Williams and Berryhill wagered on the NFL. But, the NFL's gambling policy bans players and staff from gambling any form while at any club or league facility or venue, the league said in a statement. The Lions stated Williams and Berryhill placed wagers from an NFL facility.
The Lions, of course, are based in the online sports betting hub of Michigan. The Commanders are, too, based out of an online sports betting state in Virginia.
What Don't We Know Yet?
We don't know which specific wagers were placed, how the NFL was made aware of the wagers, and how any investigation might have played out. Action Network is attempting to uncover more details on this ongoing story.
Green Dot Daily will discuss all the latest on this story in today's show airing live at 3 p.m. ET on Action Network YouTube and the Action Network app.
