NFL increases education on gambling policy after Lions face suspensions
Things got pretty confusing after the whole gambling suspensions thin with the Detroit Lions last month. Today the NFL had a conference call and the rules on gambling were elaborated on in a way that we haven't quite seen yet. There's some new things in here that really could have been beneficial for, not just […]
Things got pretty confusing after the whole gambling suspensions thin with the Detroit Lions last month. Today the NFL had a conference call and the rules on gambling were elaborated on in a way that we haven't quite seen yet.
There's some new things in here that really could have been beneficial for, not just Lions players, but players throughout the league. Recently we learned, via Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic, that players were not exactly taught the rules and regulations of the NFL's gambling policy in a very constructive way. Now it appears the NFL is trying to correct that.
Some new things that we learn from this is that the NFL is working with the gambling companies to catch players. If a player enters his name on an app for a bet, the company he used will alert the NFL per NFL Chief Compliance Officer Sabrina Perrel.
We also learned that rookies will now have to go through a mandatory training on the NFL's gambling policy. That essentially means that they didn't have this set up before. That is quite insane if you ask me.
If players aren't educated about the nuances of this policy, how is anyone supposed to follow it? No betting on NFL games is an obvious one, but clearly there wasn't much education when it comes to informing players that they can't bet on anything at all.
It's too bad that it's written in the leagues collective bargaining agreement that all gambling suspensions are final and cannot be appealed. That's really too bad. Jameson Williams would have a very strong case in an appeal considering he was really not taught all that well. Williams saying he wasn't aware of the rule makes a lot more sense now.
Unfortunately nothing can be done at this time. The leagues CBA doesn't expire until 2030. Who knows where sports gambling will even be at that time. One thing that needs to be agreed on is that suspensions can be appealed if the league doesn't educate.
This shouldn't be that big of a thing to the Lions though. They're used to rules changing after they're hurt by them.
Featured image by Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
