With the NFL cracking down on gambling policy violations, Panthers head coach Frank Reich said Thursday he understands the responsibility that his players and coaches have to uphold the integrity of the game.

“It’s a big deal,” Reich said following the final OTA workout. “Obviously, we fully support and agree with everything the league is doing in this area. It’s something to be taken very serious. So, you approach the education process through multiple efforts, a lot of it — we have a great support staff — and then the league sends in people to do training, more formal things. But then there’s a lot of informal discussion with our development people. And it’s an ongoing process, right? This is a new issue, players and coaches — we all need to continue how important this is for the integrity of our game and fully support what the league is doing.”

According to the league, its gambling policy is reviewed annually with all NFL personnel. The policy prohibits NFL employees from engaging in gambling at a team or league facility. While NFL personnel is strictly prohibited from gambling on NFL games, employees can bet on other sports away from team and league facilities.

Last season, former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley — now with the Jacksonville Jaguars — was suspended indefinitely for gambling on NFL games in 2021. Ridley was sidelined for the entire 2022 season with the suspension and was reinstated this past March.

In April, the NFL suspended five players for violating the league’s policy on gambling. Wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore were suspended indefinitely by the league, which led to their respective releases from the Detroit Lions. Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney was also given an indefinite suspension.

Wide receiver Jameson Williams — a 2022 first-round pick of the Lions — received a six-game suspension, as did fellow wideout Stanley Berryhill, who was released by Detroit in May.

Panthers wideout D.J. Chark played with Williams, Cephus, Moore and Berryhill last season. Chark, who signed with the Panthers this offseason, said he’d prefer not to gamble in general.

“Obviously, you see it comes up pretty much every week now,” Chark said. “But, like I said, I’ve never been fond of losing money. So, I’d just rather not bet. When you bet, you can’t control the outcome, so I’d rather keep my money, cause it’s for sure in my account.”

According to ESPN, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is being investigated by the league for gambling infractions. The Colts have acknowledged the investigation, and Rodgers took responsibility for his actions on social media earlier this week.

Rodgers played for Reich with the Colts from 2020 to 2022.

“Unfortunately, sometimes it takes something happening a time or two for, ‘Oh, this is real,’” Reich said. “You hate to say it, you don’t want to see it, but sometimes you don’t think it’s real until it happens. And so hopefully it’s a wake-up call for all of us to understand how serious of a matter this really is.”

Along with acknowledging the importance of the NFL’s gambling policy, Reich said he wants to make an effort to set the standard in the building when it comes to off-the-field distractions and risks.

“The game is sacred,” Reich said. “And being in-house — you talk about house rules — and there’s league-wide rules, and then there’s house rules. And we want to do things a certain way, and thankfully, we got players who I think are top-notch, high-character guys. Listen, I’m sure we’re going to make mistakes along the road, nobody is perfect, but I feel like we have the right kind of players in here — and coaches — that can continue to under the importance of off-the-field issues.”

Panthers add two players to roster after OTAs

The Panthers ended organized team activities on Thursday morning with a pair of open roster spots. A few hours later, the team claimed a duo of new recruits off waivers.

The team announced that it was awarded defensive tackle Jalen Dalton and running back Tiyon Evans off waivers. Dalton was waived by the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday, while Evans was waived by the Los Angeles Rams.

Dalton, listed as 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, is a Clemmons native and played at the University of North Carolina. Dalton entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He originally signed with the Chicago Bears as a rookie before jumping to the New Orleans Saints. After spending the better part of three seasons with the Saints, he joined the Falcons midway through last season. Dalton has played in seven career games in the NFL.

Evans — a Hartsville, South Carolina, native — is an undrafted rookie who played at Louisville. He spent the beginning of the offseason program with the Rams. The 5-foot-9, 225-pound running back figures to take up reps behind the likes of Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear this summer.

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