Fallout From NFL Declining To Conduct Supplemental Draft

The decision is, at its core, an attempt from the league to protect its member teams and the integrity of the game. Sorsby has admitted to an extensive gambling history while at Cincinnati and Indiana, including bets on Hoosiers football games while he was on the team. In a letter denying his petition to enter the supplemental draft (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport), the NFL’s management council cited both the lack of information provided regarding his infractions and the lack of time to “permit meaningful review” of the situation.

The depth and breadth of Sorsby’s gambling are a key contributor to this move. It would be impossible for teams to get a full idea of any punishment Sorsby could face as a result of his betting. The NFL indicated it would not be able to conduct a full investigation in time for the draft, which would force teams to risk a draft pick for a player who could be hit with a hefty suspension soon after. The letter also mentions reports of potential criminal violations, a factor that is even farther out of the league’s control.

Sorsby’s team, of course, would argue otherwise. His agent, Ron Slavin, told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer that “the NCAA specifically found there were not integrity-of-the-game concerns.”

“Brendan never bet on a game in which he played,” Slavin added. “In fact, the only wagers involving his team occurred in 2022, when he was redshirting and had not yet appeared in a game. Those bets were simply on his team and teammates to succeed. Once Brendan began suiting up and participating in games, there were zero bets placed on his own team. The remainder of the wagers over the next three years involved other sports and were unrelated to college football.”

But the NFL will want to draw their own conclusions, and do to so, they are effectively punting on Sorsby’s future until they have had enough time to assess the best path forward. That will likely include consulting with those who knew and played with Sorsby at Cincinnati, Indiana, and Texas Tech, Breer adds. The letter makes note of his “possible entry” into the standard 2027 draft, suggesting that turning pro next year is no guarantee, either.

As expected, Sorsby’s legal team, led by Jeffrey Kessler, plans to fight the NFL’s decision, arguing that it is a violation of the league’s collective bargaining agreement. There are two issues with that allegation. The first is that Sorsby is not a member of the NFL Players Association and is therefore not protected by the CBA. The second is that the CBA gives the league the discretion to conduct a supplemental draft, should they deem it appropriate. The NFL referenced that power in their letter to Sorsby, which is the common interpretation of the CBA’s language, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The NFLPA is still assessing the situation and determining if they have any legal grounds to take action, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Kessler also released a statement (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) explaining that the NFL did not request any information from Sorsby other than a “short application” for the supplemental draft. The application itself did not ask for any additional information, and the NFL declined an inquiry from Slavin asking if the league had any questions.

Another round of legal action seems inevitable, and that only adds to the remaining cases on the docket. The Big 12’s federal lawsuit against Texas Tech remains in play, per ESPN’s Heather Dinich, though that issue is decidedly distinct from Sorsby’s standoff with the NFL.