In a surprising turn of events, the NFL has officially reinstated all five players who were suspended indefinitely for violating the strict gambling policy of the league. Among these players are WR Quintez Cephus , safety C.J. Moore , DL Demetrius Taylor , WR Shaka Toney , and LB Rashod Berry .
Toney would be joining the roster of the Washington Commanders as he is still under contract whereas the remaining four are free agents after being cut off by their respective franchises, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts.
In addition to them, defensive back Isaiah Rodgers, who was also suspended, has not been reinstated and remains under review, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The suspensive took place last offseason after a stringent crackdown on gambling. It was aimed at addressing the evolving landscape of sports betting, where it’s a lot easier for players to engage in betting using their phones without realizing the consequences of their actions or being aware of the restrictive policies.
The NFL also faced scrutiny over its perceived shortcomings in failing to adapt to the new world of betting. Following the suspension, the NFL has reformed the restrictive gambling rules by extending them beyond football and prohibiting players from betting on any other sport while on any team’s roster.
Even though there haven’t been instances of betting as far-fetched as in the NBA or MLB, where Jontay Porter was banned for life and Ippei Mizuhara is facing criminal federal charges, it still remains an emerging concern for the league.
Bills players involved in gambling scandal
When the scandal broke on the internet, the Bills found themselves at the very center, as several players of the team were involved in the gambling.
Apart from the Bills’ key players, Cephus, Moore, and Taylor, who were suspended indefinitely, two other players, Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill , received a six-game suspension in 2023.
The incident took place when the NBA was already dealing with the lifetime suspension of Toronto Raptors’ player Porter, who was found guilty of betting on games and trading inside information.
Shortly after the suspension, the Lions released Moore, Taylor, and Cephus, who are now in free agency, while Williams and Berryhill remained on the roster.
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