Safety CJ Moore has been suspended for the entire 2023-24 NFL season for violating the league’s betting policy. Now the player has received reinstatement, paving the way for the possibility of signing with a team.
The NFL’s decision to reaccept Moore is accompanied by the reinstatement of four other players: Quintez Cephus, Demetrius Taylor, Rashod Berry and Shaka Toney.
Among these players, only Toney remains under contract, still linked to the Washington Commanders.
The other athletes are now free agents, available for negotiations after their respective suspensions.
It is worth noting that Moore had signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with Detroit shortly before his suspension took effect.
Cephus and Taylor also had ties to the Lions, while Berry was on the Indianapolis Colts roster.
In addition to these five, three other NFL players faced six-game suspensions for their involvement in mobile betting within team facilities.
Detroit receiver Jameson Williams and Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere were reinstated after serving four games of their penalties. Stanley Berryhill, in turn, found a new direction by signing with the CFL’s BC Lions.
Criticism to NFL
After the suspensions were issued, the NFL came under fire. All of this, for not making its gambling policy clear enough to players.
According to Yahoo Sports, players are the only league or team employees who can place bets on sports other than the NFL.
However, such bets are not permitted within team facilities, including transportation and accommodations.
Prior to these penalties, the last NFL player to receive a suspension for a gambling policy violation was Calvin Ridley, then a player for the Atlanta Falcons.
Ridley missed the entire 2022 season and the Jacksonville Jaguars subsequently traded him. He recently signed a contract with the Tennessee Titans.
