Tag: gambling

Lions safety C.J. Moore runs back a fake punt against the Vikings during the second half of the Lions' 34-23 win over the Vikings on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, at Ford Field. Lionsminn 121122 Kd 6007

Report: Reinstated S C.J. Moore agrees to deal with Lions

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Safety C.J. Moore is returning to the Detroit Lions after serving a one-season suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

The deal is for one year, but financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The Lions signed Moore as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and he played in 56 games (one start) for Detroit. He took part in at least 68 percent of the Lions’ special teams snaps in each of his four seasons with the team and contributed 48 tackles, two passes defensed, an interception and a fumble recovery.

The Lions released Moore, 28, in April 2023 after he was one of five NFL players — including four Lions — to receive suspensions for gambling violations. Wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who like Moore served a season-long ban, signed recently with the Buffalo Bills after his reinstatement.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. (34) signs a ball for a fan Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

NFL reinstates Eagles’ Isaiah Rodgers after gambling ban

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The NFL reinstated Philadelphia Eagles cornerback and kick returner Isaiah Rodgers on Tuesday after a one-year gambling suspension.

Rodgers, 26, has been cleared to participate in all team activities, effective immediately.

The Indianapolis Colts cut Rodgers following his suspension last June and he signed with the Eagles in August.

A sixth-round pick in 2020, Rodgers averaged 27.0 yards on 61 kickoff returns in 45 games with the Colts from 2020-22. He returned a kick 101 yards for a touchdown at Cleveland in Week 5 of 2020.

Following his suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy, Rodgers issued a statement acknowledging his mistakes.

“Addressing the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions. I know I have made mistakes, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation,” he posted on social media.

“The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organization, my coaches and my teammates. I’ve let people down that I care about. I made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It’s an honor to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney (58) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders cut reinstated DE Shaka Toney

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The Washington Commanders cut defensive end Shaka Toney on Monday, days after he was reinstated by the NFL following a one-year gambling suspension.

Washington drafted Toney in the seventh round in 2021 and he appeared in 26 games (one start), registering 1.5 sacks and 16 tackles from 2021-22.

The NFL suspended Toney on April 21, 2023, for violating the league’s policy on gambling. Of the five players who were reinstated by the league last week, he had been the only one still on a roster.

Toney, 26, became expendable this offseason with the Commanders signing defensive ends Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell and Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency and also re-signing Efe Obada. Also on the DE depth chart are KJ Henry, Jalen Harris and Andre Jones Jr.

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney (58) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: NFL reinstates 5 players suspended for gambling

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The NFL has reinstated five players who had been suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s gambling policy, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.

Current Washington Commanders edge rusher Shaka Toney, former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Rashod Berry and three former Detroit Lions — wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore and defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor — were reinstated.

Toney and four Lions players, including Moore and Cephus, were suspended last April. Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended for six games.

The Lions released Cephus and Moore when they were suspended.

The league suspended indefinitely Berry and Colts defensive back Isaiah Rodgers as well as free agent Taylor, who had been waived by the Lions about a month earlier. They were penalized for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season.

Rodgers, who remains suspended, later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have his rights.

–Field Level Media

Inside NCAA Headquarters located in Indianapolis on Friday, March 10, 2023. Ncaa President Charlie Baker

NCAA ‘drawing line’ on gambling, wants player prop bets banned

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The NCAA wants states to ban player prop bets in college sports to protect both athletes and the “integrity of the game,” president Charlie Baker said Wednesday.

“Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes and professional athletes getting harassed,” Baker said. “The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats and many are responding by banning college prop bets.”

Last week, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters he had been threatened by gamblers last season.

“They got my telephone number and were sending me crazy messages about where I live and my kids and all that stuff,” Bickerstaff said. “So it is a dangerous game and a fine line that we’re walking for sure.”

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said recently that gamblers reach out to him directly on social media about prop bets, which involve the performance of individual players and not the team.

“To half the world, I’m just helping them make money on DraftKings or whatever,” he said. “I’m a prop.”

And Baker said that isn’t right.

“This week we will be contacting officials across the country in states that still allow these bets and ask them to join Ohio, Vermont, Maryland and many others and remove college prop bets from all betting markets,” Baker said. “The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game.”

Wagering on college sports is a multi-billion industry. The American Gaming Association issued its projection last week that said Americans will legally bet $2.72 billion on the 2024 men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, equivalent to just 2.2 percent of the total amount of money legally wagered on sports in the U.S. in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Feb 5, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a press conference in advance of Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell: Integrity ‘No. 1’ priority as legalized gambling expands

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At his annual state of the league address Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the topic of gambling, with Super Bowl LVIII being held in the hotbed of betting — Las Vegas — on Sunday.

Speculation has increased regarding the integrity of the league given the NFL’s gambling partnerships with Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings and FanDuel. However, the league has addressed the issue in recent years by updating and enforcing stricter gambling policies. Both players and league employees face consequences for gambling and are barred from gambling or visiting casinos during Super Bowl week.

“It’s our No. 1 objective: Gambling and outside of gambling, the integrity of our game is critical,” Goodell told reporters in the Las Vegas Raiders’ locker room, site of his news conference. “And so we spend a lot of time focusing on that: educating, making sure that all of our personnel are aware of our gambling policies in this case or any other policy that can affect the integrity of our game. Ultimately, that’s our primary job.”

Goodell told reporters he believed 25 league and team personnel violated the NFL’s gambling violations but didn’t reveal whether all were fired or what type of discipline they faced. The commissioner added that approximately 13 players had been disciplined.

The commissioner said that betting on an NFL game could result in termination for a league office employee. Per the latest gambling policy, players receive a one-year suspension for betting on the league and a two-year suspension for betting on their team.

Regarding players betting on other sports, first-time offenders will be suspended two games without pay, second-time offenders six games and third-time offenders at least a one-year suspension.

“We take this incredibly seriously,” Goodell said. “We understand the risk. We did not make the decision. Ultimately the decision was a decision by the Supreme Court: They legalized sports betting. We have to adapt. We have to embrace it. We have been cautious. We have been very thoughtful, I think, in our approach. But we know the risk, and protecting the integrity is No. 1.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) walks off the field after their pre-season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Lions WR Jameson Williams returns from suspension

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams completed his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy and could make his season debut Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft, rejoined the team on Tuesday.

“Today was one of those better days in the last month,” Williams told reporters on Tuesday. “Just getting out there and getting on the field. We had a good day yesterday, so today I put pads on and I feel good today out there with the guys.”

What did Williams do while away from the Lions?

“I did a lot of catching,” Williams said. “I was doing like 100 a day. It was every day. You can do the math on that. It was a lot of catches.”

Williams was limited to six games as a rookie after recovering from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament sustained at the end of his college career at Alabama. His only catch in 2022 was a 41-yard touchdown reception against the Minnesota Vikings. He also had a 40-yard rush later in the season.

He returns to a receiving corps featuring Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds and Marvin Jones Jr.

The NFL suspended Williams and four other players on April 21 for violating its gambling policy. Williams received only a four-game punishment because he placed mobile bets on non-NFL games from a club facility last year. He did not bet on NFL games.

The league has since changed its policy so that betting on non-NFL sports at a team facility or during team-related travel will result in a two-game suspension for a first violation.

“I’m not mad,” Williams said of that revision, according to ESPN. “I’m excited I get to play football and get back to it.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) warms up prior to a game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa, Iowa State players to pay fine in gambling case

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Five athletes from Iowa and Iowa State pleaded guilty Wednesday to underage gambling, a simple misdemeanor, and will avoid jail time.

Instead, each athlete will pay a $645 fine.

Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers and offensive lineman Jacob Remsburg were among those who were charged with tampering with records as part of a gambling scheme. Former Cyclones lineman Dodger Sauser, former Iowa kicker Aaron Blom and former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen were also charged.

That charge, an aggravated misdemeanor, was dismissed as part of the plea deal. The five players could have faced two years in prison if found guilty.

Per the Des Moines Register, none of the athletes will face additional criminal punishments.

Mark Weinhardt, a lawyer for the three Iowa State football players, released a statement Wednesday.

“The original records tampering charge against these young men never fit this case, either legally or factually. Hunter, Jake and Dodge are not and never were guilty of that charge. The charge has nothing to do with gambling,” Weinhardt said. “Other than the fact that Hunter, Jake and Dodge placed some bets before they turned 21, nothing about those bets is a crime under Iowa law.”

Story County (Iowa) attorney Timothy Meals told the newspaper that he could not discuss an ongoing investigation.

Authorities in Iowa have charged more than a dozen current or former athletes at the two universities in their investigation into sports betting in the state, per ESPN.

Dekkers remains on the roster but has not participated in any team activities this summer. Remsburg did not play in Iowa State’s opener on Saturday and has been suspended six games by the NCAA, ESPN and the Register reported.

The other three players have left their respective teams.

–Field Level Media

Jake Remsburg stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

Report: Iowa State OL Jake Remsburg faces likely suspension

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Iowa State starting offensive lineman Jake Remsburg will miss Saturday’s season opener against Northern Iowa, likely as part of a six-game NCAA suspension linked to gambling, ESPN reported.

Remsburg is expected to be suspended six games following a widespread investigation into gambling at Iowa State that has embroiled seven current or former players. They include five returning starters from 2022, including quarterback Hunter Dekkers.

The school declined to comment on a potential Remsburg suspension.

“Iowa State has received the eligibility rulings from the NCAA’s Student-Athlete Reinstatement (SAR) Committee and shared those with impacted student-athletes,” a university statement said. “As we have stated since the outset, we will not comment on any individual’s case.”

Remsburg allegedly gambled on NCAA football and basketball games, though not on Iowa State contests.

ESPN reported that Remsburg is the only one of the five returning players expected to play for the Cyclones this season.

If he receives the six-game suspension, as expected, Remsburg would be eligible to return to Oct. 14 for a Big 12 road clash against Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media

Isaiah Lee stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

DL Isaiah Lee leaves Iowa State after charge in betting probe

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Isaiah Lee has left the Iowa State football program after being charged in a student-athlete gambling probe last week, the school confirmed to multiple media outlets Monday.

A defensive lineman who played in 12 games for the Cyclones last season, Lee was charged with tampering with records in an effort to place sports wagers online without being identified, according to the latest criminal complaint in the state of Iowa’s probe.

Lee is accused of betting on 12 Iowa State football games. He allegedly placed a moneyline bet on Texas to beat Iowa State when the Big 12 programs played in 2021; Iowa State won the game.

Lee is one of seven current or former Iowa State football players facing charges thus far, a group that includes last year’s starting quarterback and running back, Hunter Dekkers and Jirehl Brock.

Lee, who’s alleged to have placed 115 total bets for more than $885, is the second player to leave the Cyclones’ football program over the scandal, following offensive lineman Dodge Sauser.

–Field Level Media