The North American National Football League (NFL), has sanctioned suspensions for 5 players for violations against their gambling policy. These suspensions will begin with the commencement of the 2023/24 season in the autumn of this year.

The players in violation of gambling regulation were Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore along with Washington Commanders defensive Shaka Toney who have all received indefinite bans. 6 game suspensions have also been handed out to 2 further Detroit Lions players Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams.

The NFL’s gambling policy is astringent and concise, all team personnel, which includes players, are prohibited from betting on any NFL activities at any time, as well as betting on any other sports while on a league property, extending to team practice fields and facilities.

In the Case of Berryhill and Williams, they were caught betting both from an NFL facility on a non-NFL game. They are both still eligible for all offseason and preseason participation, including preseason games.

Cephus and Moore’s non-observance were of an even more severe nature as they were found in violation by betting on games contested within the NFL itself.

Regardless, due to the severity of their suspension and regulatory breach, the Detroit Lions have subsequently released both the wide receiver and safety.

Brad Holmes, the executive vice president and general manager of the Lions made this statement on the matter:

exhibited decision making that is not consistent with our organizational values and [that] violates league rules.

This is a rather aggressive stance from the Lions as the 2 players in question could perhaps have applied to be reinstated after a year, as is the apparent case for Toney at the Commanders.

Aside from this, Holmes also made a statement regarding the players who were not cut from the roster, assuredly explaining that the team will work with them so as “to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”

In lieu of these suspensions one has to ask if this course of action is perhaps too harsh, with the league stating “review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.”

Bringing up the far less isolated issue of hypocrisy in the league’s governance. Being by far the most popular sport in North America, along with one of the most lucrative the world over. The NFL draws close to $2 billion in sponsorship, a number that has and will in all likelihood continue to grow since well before the turn of the 2010s. A significant portion of this revenue has come from sports betting companies, all of the services of which are subject to complete prohibition to any and all NFL personnel, even outside of their own league.

Betting on other leagues would in many ways seem to be completely amenable with no insider information and no evidence of compromising the play or outcome of the game whatsoever. Amendments to the rules of conduct may be subject to change at any time however, the league’s most recent actions suggest a steely determination and refusal to regress in any way on their rules or their stance.

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