The National Football League issued one of its harshest gambling penalties ever Friday, suspending five players, including four members of the Detroit Lions. Reactions and opinions have been dominating headlines along with sports betting ahead of next week’s 2023 NFL Draft.

These five players — four Lions and one Commander — were all suspended on April 21, 2023 after the NFL ruled that the players have violated the league’s gambling policy.

• Jameson Williams, WR Lions: Suspended six games for betting from team facility.
• Stanley Berryhill, WR Lions: Suspended six games for betting from team facility.
• Quintez Cephus, Lions WR: Suspended indefinitely, cut by team; eligible to apply for reinstatement after one year.
• C.J. Moore, Lions safety: Suspended indefinitely, cut by team; eligible to apply for reinstatement after one year.
• Shaka Toney, Commanders defensive end: Suspended indefinitely; eligible to apply for reinstatement after one year.

The penalties are effective immediately, and no appeals are allowed. League policy prohibits players from gambling on NFL games, the draft or other activities. Players are prohibited from taking part in any form of gambling while at a league or team facility or while traveling with the team.

The league has said it found no evidence indicating “any inside information was used or that any game was compromised.”

The Detroit Lions organization also fired four “lower-level staff members” in March for violating the league’s gambling policy for employees.

Reactions to Gambling Suspensions

Pat McAfee, who has a four-year, $120 million contract with FanDuel, talked with NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport.

“The integrity of the shield has to remain intact, for the good of all of our money,” McAfee noted.

“I don’t think it’s a trend yet,” Sports Handle senior analyst Chris Altruda told the Associated Press of the recent suspensions. “I do think the league has to do a better job messaging, and I think the teams have to do a better job of relaying that message as well.”

In a recent New York Times article, more questions arose on the how the NFL’s suspensions of players exposes the league’s unsure footing as it both promotes and punishes sports gambling.

“Now, the young athletes are coming up in professional sports leagues with mixed messaging, not just from society and gambling companies, but from the sports leagues themselves,” said Marc Edelman, a law professor and director of sports ethics at Baruch College. As long as the N.F.L. has partnerships with betting companies, advertises betting during its games and encourages betting to the point of having sportsbooks on-site at N.F.L. stadiums, there will be “a level of cognitive dissonance for some players,” who may not fully realize the ramifications if they do bet on sports,” Edelman added.

NFL Gambling Sanctions

Until recently, gambling incidents had not surfaced often for the NFL. The National Football League did not penalize a player for betting between 1983 and 2019. Following the 2022 full season suspension of wide receiver Calvin Ridley for gambling on football games, there have now been seven players suspended for gambling violations since the last player in 2019. Also, New York Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin was suspended in December for the 2023 season for violating the league’s gambling policy. He did not bet on football.

Some notable gambling suspensions happened prior to 1985. Former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras became one of the first two players suspended for gambling in NFL history. Karras missed the 1963 season after admitting to placing “at least a half dozen $50-$100 bets,” per ESPN.

Paul Hornung, the Green Bay Packers “Golden Boy” running back and 1961 MVP, joined Karras on the sidelines for the 1963 season for betting on NFL games and associating with gamblers. Hornung had bet up to $500 on games.

Former Baltimore QB Art Schlichter, the No. 4 overall pick in the 1982 draft, was suspended for the 1983 season for gambling. A few years later, he was arrested for running an illegal, multimillion-dollar sports betting operation. More gambling-related theft chargers landed Schlichter in prison from 2011-2021. His actions should serve as a painful reminder for all NFL players about responsible gambling, or the lack thereof that gambling can have on their own lives and others close to them.

Detroit Lions Suspensions and NFL Draft

Friday’s suspensions come less than one week before the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions have two picks in Round 1 at No. 6 and 18. The NFL Draft odds at FanDuel Sportsbook rate Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon (-120) as the favorite to be taken No. 6 overall, followed Georgia DT Jalen Carter (+420) and Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez (+550). The suspension of four Lions players could alter the Lions draft and top four picks in the first two rounds.

Regardless, lessons continue to be learned about NFL players betting on league games and sports. The National Football League will continue to levy severe penalties for gambling violations.

You can bet on it.