On Friday morning, four Lions players were among five league-wide to receive NFL suspensions for violating the league’s gambling policy. Former first-round pick Jameson Williams was involved, receiving a six-game suspension. Others received indefinite suspensions, equal to that of WR Calvin Ridley’s suspension for betting on NFL games. These punishments followed an investigation from the NFL.
Below we’ll explain why Williams only received a six-game suspension, while Ridley and the others received indefinite ones.
Reasoning Behind NFL Gambling Suspensions
For starters, Williams and fellow Lions receiver Stanley Berryhill did not obtain a year-long suspension because they placed non-football bets that occurred at the Lions’ Allen Park facility. Meanwhile, wideout Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore, along with Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney, were suspended indefinitely. Cephus and Moore were both released upon being suspended.
The heftier penalties were reportedly for wagering on NFL games. Although Williams and Berryhill will miss the first six games of the campaign, they’ll still be allowed to participate in team activities throughout the offseason, along with preseason games. The suspensions will begin at the final roster cutdown in late August.
Here is the NFL’s official gambling policy, and the sections related to these suspensions.
“1. Betting on Football: All NFL Personnel are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet, whether directly or indirectly through a third-party, on any NFL game, practice or other event. This includes betting on game outcome, statistics, score, performance of any individual participant, or any other kind of “proposition bet” on which wagering is offered.”
“6. Gambling in the Workplace: NFL Personnel shall not engage in any form of gambling while in any Club or League setting including, without limitation, locker rooms, practice or office facilities, team buses, trains, flights, or hotels, or while traveling on Club or League business. For clarity, playing cards or other casino-type games is permitted as long as nothing of value is wagered.”
Reports have also surfaced that Detroit dismissed members of its staff in a variety of departments for violating the gambling policy.
“We are disappointed by the decision making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said.
The NFL appears to be cracking down more on betting, especially on football, with more states offering legalized betting. In March 2022, Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley was slapped with a season-long suspension for wagering more than $35,000 on several sports, including NFL games.
At the time of publish, Williams and the Lions possess the eighth-shortest Super Bowl 58 odds. The best available price is .
