Lions' recent problem could be the tip of the iceberg for NFL
The Detroit Lions were hit hard early in April as the NFL handed down suspensions to four players for violating the league’s gambling policy. But what seemed like a problem that almost exclusively involved the Lions could soon evolve into something even bigger. Lions WR Jameson Williams headlined a group of five players that were […]
The Detroit Lions were hit hard early in April as the NFL handed down suspensions to four players for violating the league’s gambling policy. But what seemed like a problem that almost exclusively involved the Lions could soon evolve into something even bigger.
Lions WR Jameson Williams headlined a group of five players that were on the receiving end of these punishments. Williams and his teammate Stanley Berryhill each received six-game suspensions while WR Quintez Cephus, S C.J. Moore and Washington Commanders DE Shaka Toney were each suspended for at least one year.
Berryhill, Cephus and Moore have all been released by Detroit in the aftermath.
ESPN’s David Purdum reports that the NFL is currently investigating a second wave of potential violations to the league’s gambling policy.
From Purdum: “The April suspensions brought into focus the different ways the NFL is catching those who violate the gambling policy, including third parties in partnership with the league using geolocation to identify bets being placed from prohibited jurisdictions, such as team facilities,” Purdum writes.
“Additionally, companies, including NFL partner U.S. Integrity, are developing platforms aimed at tracking bets placed by prohibited individuals such as players and coaches. Leagues or teams would provide a list of prohibited bettors to the platforms, which would then be shared with sportsbooks. If a prohibited bettor attempts to wager, the technology flags it.”
The apps most commonly used for sports betting are pretty sophisticated when it comes to how they are able to track which players are gambling with them. It was around this time last season when Jacksonville Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley was handed an indefinite suspension which was lifted after one year.
Sports betting will continue to grow which means this problem isn’t likely to go away anytime soon. With that being said, these players must do everything in their power to know the rules before placing wagers. As Williams and Berryhill found out the hard way, it’s equally as important to know what sports players are allowed to wager on as it is to understand where using these apps is prohibited.
