The National Football League has reiterated its commitment to enforce gambling rules upon its players, emphasized by a conference call with reporters Tuesday.
After several incidences of players gambling, either on the league or other sports entirely, the NFL called a virtual media conference to crystalize its policies to media.
There are six ‘key rules’ which players must abide by to avoid punishment akin to Calvin Ridley, Jameson Williams and Co.
They are: Don’t bet on the NFL; Don’t gamble at your team facility, while traveling for a road game or staying at a team hotel; Don’t have someone bet for you; Don’t share team ‘inside information’; Don’t enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season; Don’t play daily fantasy football.
What remains unexplained is why players are able to bet on other sports during their time away from the facility, as per the aforementioned conditions, and yet other league and team personnel – including staff and coaches – cannot at any juncture.
The NFL emphasized its commitment to educate league players following recent violations
Lions sophomore wide receiver Jameson Williams was suspended six games for wagering
Then, there is the issue wherein sports gambling is illegal in three states — Florida, Texas and California — which eight franchises reside; Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa Bay, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, along with LA’s Rams and Chargers.
‘Sports gambling has a great deal more presence in people’s lives than it did just a few short years ago,’ NFL executive vice president of communications, Jeff Miller told reporters.
‘Which means for us as [a] sports league — where integrity of the game is the highest single principle — that we have to be thoughtful and careful and scrutinize how we share information and educate people around the rules that govern it.’
Criticism has arrived at the doorstep of the NFL’s league office at 345 Park Ave, in some instances regarding the education of its players on the Do’s and Don’ts of the gambling policy.
Williams, the Lions’ talented sophomore receiver, said last month he ‘wasn’t aware’ of the policy before receiving a six game ban — one of four Detroit players suspended.
Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. is under investigation from the NFL for reported bets
Irrespective of NFL regulations, players cannot place wagers on sports in Florida, Texas or CA
‘It hit me out the blue and it hit a couple other players around the league and on my team out the blue,’ he said, via ESPN. ‘I wasn’t aware of this situation, but as it happened, I took it on the chin.
‘I didn’t know things like this was coming, but I took me some time, and I just thought about the better days and moving forward.’
Presently, Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. is under investigation from the league for various reported bets including on his own franchise. Miller declined to comment further Tuesday, referring to the ongoing status of it.
All rookies will now attend mandatory information sessions with league officials to also make visits to team facilities to provide further education and clarity on what is permissible and otherwise in this new age of sports gambling.