The NFL has suspended yet another player for violating the league’s gambling policy. On Monday, the league announced that Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike has been banned indefinitely, which means for at least a full year. He is eligible to apply for reinstatement on July 24, 2024.
The indefinite suspensions implies that Uwazurike bet on NFL games, something the league did, in fact, confirm. That is all the detail provided in its two-sentence public statement.
The team did not have much to say on the matter, either.
“We were informed by the NFL [on Monday] that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy,” the Broncos said in a statement. “Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously.”
Earlier in the offseason, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he did speak to the team about the NFL’s gambling policy, about which every team received an information packet.
“We’re professional teachers,” he told ESPN at the time. “The packet we received, we looked at, studied [it] closely and then we presented it in our own PowerPoint. I probably had 20 minutes on it to really make sure everyone has it.”
He added that the packet was confusing, but that in the end, “I think we’re all on the same page.”
Uwasurike is the tenth NFL player to be suspended this year for breaking the league’s gambling rules. Last month, Rashod Berry and Isaiah Rodgers of the Indianapolis Colts and free agent Demetrius Taylor were suspended indefinitely, again meaning that they were confirmed to have wagered on NFL games. Nicholas Petit-Frere of the Tennessee Titans was suspended for six games for betting on non-NFL games at the workplace.
In April, the Detroit Lions’ Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore were suspended indefinitely, as was the Washington Commanders’ Shaka Toney. The Lions’ Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams were suspended for six games.
Betting on NFL games is absolutely prohibited and brings with it the harshest penalty, though as mentioned, not necessarily a lifelong ban. The shorter suspension is for betting on other sports at the workplace, which includes team facilities, transportation, and hotels. Players are also not allowed to step foot in a casino during the season, have another person place a bet for them, or play daily fantasy football.
