Washington, D.C. – Five NFL players who were suspended last year for violating the league’s gambling policy have now been reinstated, marking their return to the field after facing repercussions for their actions. Among those reinstated are wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore, defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor, linebacker Rashod Berry, and defensive end Shaka Toney, all of whom had been suspended for the entirety of the 2023 season.
Toney, who is currently under contract with the Commanders, will resume playing with the team, while the other four players are now free agents after being released by their respective teams. Cephus, Moore, and Taylor were all part of the Lions’ roster before being cut, and Berry had been with the Colts before facing the same fate.
The suspensions were a result of the NFL’s crackdown on gambling activities within the league, as the organization sought to address concerns regarding the use of sports betting apps by players. This move was met with criticism, highlighting the challenges of regulating player behavior in a rapidly evolving landscape of sports betting. The league’s rules prohibit players from engaging in any form of betting, even on sports other than football, especially while they are at team facilities.
While the NFL has managed to avoid some of the more severe scandals seen in other sports leagues, such as the NBA’s lifetime ban of Jontay Porter and MLB interpreter Ippei Mizuhara facing federal charges related to gambling, the issue of gambling remains prevalent in the NFL. Despite the league’s lucrative partnerships with sportsbooks, the potential risks and consequences of gambling activities among players continue to be a focal point of concern for the NFL and its stakeholders.