Detroit Lions re-educate players on gambling policy following suspensions, ongoing investigation

Each year, the NFL provides its players with information regarding its various policies, including the gambling policy, but considering the Lions had four players suspended for violations and there is still an ongoing investigation, it doesn’t seem the message got through in Detroit.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters this week that the team won’t leave it up to the league this year. The team is providing its players with additional education on the policy.

“It’s much more an emphasis from us, as opposed to just leaving it to the league,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said, via Kyle Meinke. “Like, we need to make sure that we really hit this ourselves and make a point of it. We did, but obviously not enough.

“The proof’s in the pudding. So for us, let’s take it out of their hands. They will have what they do every year, but now we need to put our own emphasis on it. And I think that is the best way to do it, is to highlight it. And that is what we are trying to do.”

A week before last month’s draft, the NFL announced that five players from two teams were being suspended for gambling. Four of them were on the Lions roster.

The biggest name was receiver Jameson Williams, the team’s top draft pick from 2022. He received a suspension of six games. So did fellow receiver Stanley Berryhill.

Jameson Williams ‘unaware’ of gambling policy

At Lions OTAs this week, Williams said the suspension caught him by surprise as the former rookie was unaware of the specific policy that he broke. He also added that he doesn’t plan to appeal his suspension.

“I just left it alone. They gave me six games and we left it at that,” Williams said to the gaggle of reporters. “I’m just looking forward to coming back Week 7. Getting back with my team out there, playing the game.”

Meanwhile, the league also suspended safety CJ Moore and receiver Quintez Cephus indefinitely. That means both players must miss at least one season. The Lions cut both Moore and Cephus that day. Earlier this month, Detroit then waived Berryhill.

The league also gave Washington Commanders defensive lineman Shaka Toney an indefinite suspension for betting on NFL games.

For the Lions, the investigation is still ongoing. The Athletic reported that there is a fifth, unnamed player under investigation for potentially violating the gambling policy. The outlet wasn’t able to confirm who the player was but shared that they did not have a “prominent role” last season.

On3’s Andrew Graham contributed to this report.