Reinstated are five players who were suspended a year ago for breaking the NFL’s gambling policy.
Quintez Cephus, a wide receiver, safety C.J. Moore, defensive end Shaka Toney, defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor, and linebacker Rashod Berry have all been reinstated by the league. For the whole 2023 season, all five received suspensions.
Toney will be added back to the Commanders’ roster as per his contract. The remaining players are unrestricted free agents: Taylor, Moore, and Cephus were all members of the Lions before they were cut. Berry was cut while playing with the Colts.
The NFL came under fire last offseason for its crackdown on gambling, which included suspensions. The NFL was accused of not dealing with the new sports betting scene appropriately, where players frequently use apps on their phones to place bets and occasionally are unaware of how strict the regulations are—for example, they are prohibited from betting on sports other than football if they do so while at the team facility.
The NFL hasn’t made any headlines as bad as those from the NBA, where Jontay Porter received a life ban, or Major League Baseball, where Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter for superstar Shohei Ohtani, is being charged federally with federal crimes related to his alleged gambling addiction. Even so, the NFL continues to face a significant gambling problem despite the league’s income from its partnerships with sports bookmakers.
