On Friday, the NFL suspended five players for violating the league's gambling policy, with four of them being from the Detroit Lions, according to reports from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The suspended Lions players are receivers Jameson Williams, Quintez Cephus, Stanley Berryhill, and safety C.J. Moore, while the Washington Commanders' defensive end Shaka Toney is the fifth suspended player. Williams and Berryhill received six-game suspensions, while Cephus, Moore, and Toney were suspended indefinitely, but can apply for reinstatement after the 2023 season.
The NFL later confirmed the suspensions and stated that their review did not find any evidence of inside information being used or any game being compromised. The league's gambling policy prohibits NFL personnel from gambling on any game, in any club or league facility, or venue, including the practice facility.
As a result of the NFL investigation, the Lions released Cephus and Moore following their suspensions. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said that the players' decision-making did not align with the organization's values and violated league rules. He added that the Lions were disappointed in the decision-making demonstrated by Williams and Berryhill, and they will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of their violations and have clarity on the league's rules moving forward.
According to the Lions, Williams and Berryhill's suspensions stem from betting on non-NFL games from an NFL facility. Both players can participate in offseason and preseason activities leading up to their suspensions, which will begin on the final roster cutdown date. Williams' suspension is the most significant blow to the Lions, as he was a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and expected to play a key role in the team's offense in 2023.
Overall, the suspensions are the first gambling-related bans for players since the NFL suspended receiver Calvin Ridley for the 2022 campaign, who was later reinstated this offseason
Comments