Debts To Pay

The NFL on Friday indefinitely suspended three players and disciplined two others for violating the league’s policy pertaining to gambling.

The league announced that wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore of the Detroit Lions, along with Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney, won’t play until “at least the conclusion of the 2023 season” for getting in 2022 NFL games.

Also, two Lions wide receivers, including 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams as well as Stanley Berryhill, are suspended for the Lions’ first six regular-season games in 2023.

2023 first round draft pick Jameson Williams is among those suspended for gambling violations

Cephus, Moore and Toney can petition for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Williams and Berryhill can participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games, per the league. Their suspensions take effect at the final roster cutdown.

NFL players are prohibited from “engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, including the practice facility,” the league said, adding that its investigation “uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.”

Williams’ agent, Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Sports, released a statement notion that Williams’ violation wasn’t for betting on football but for a “technical rule regarding the actual location in which the online bet was placed.”

Arceneaux’s statement said Williams’ bet would’ve been permitted by the NFL had it been placed outside the Lions’ facility. 

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

Casey Hayward

Another cornerback is hitting the open market, as the Atlanta Falcons released Casey Hayward. 

Hayward signed a two-year deal with the Falcons in March of 2022 to start on the opposite side of All-Pro A.J. Terrell.

However, Hayward’s lone season with Atlanta was cut short after just six games due to a pectoral injury. 

Now, the 33-year-old Hayward enters the free agent market for the third offseason in a row as one of the oldest cornerbacks in the league. 

The two-time All-Pro is 12th among active NFL players in interceptions with 25. 

Atlanta, who has been one of the more aggressive teams in acquiring talent during the 2023 offseason, double-dipped for Detroit corners in the previous month with the signing of Mike Hughes and the trade for 2020 third overall pick Jeff Okudah. 

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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