Education instead of suspension
Rather than suspend two players, the NFL handed out multiple education training sessions after two rookies were caught making a friendly, $10,000 wager about who would win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The two players – New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels – canceled the bet once they learned it violated league gambling policies, but it was too late to avoid consequences.
we’re comfortable with the resolution”
NFL Executive Vice President of Communications Jeff Miller said: “The league addressed the matter directly with the NFL Players Association, with the two teams, and the two players, to ensure that they understood the policy… They received multiple education training sessions since that time, and I think we’re in a—as a result of all the work that went into it, we’re comfortable with the resolution.”
Bet canceled, but still consequences
Nabers first revealed that he and Daniels, who were teammates at LSU, had made the wager during an appearance on “The Pivot” podcast. The details were later confirmed by Daniels on the “All Facts No Breaks” podcast, which is hosted by former NFL receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
We were uneducated on the gambling policy in the NFL”
Daniels told Washington Commanders reporters earlier this year: “We were uneducated on the gambling policy in the NFL… Me and him had a conversation and we canceled the bet. Obviously, we don’t want to get in trouble with anything. We’re just focused on being the best players for our respective teams.”
When questioned about the wager, Nabers told Giants reporters: “I’m educated now that I got here about sports betting and gambling.”
He insisted it was just a friendly wager, saying it was simply a way for them to motivate each other. “So we called the bet off—there’s no bet now.”
No suspensions in past year
In keeping with the consequences for Nabers and Daniels, the NFL has not delivered a suspension for gambling violations in over a year, in part due to the league focusing on violations as educational opportunities.
The NFL, which has worked with the NFL Players Association, said: “Education and training is presented to the players—typically at the team facility—by a member of the NFL’s compliance team, the team’s head of player engagement (often a former player), or by other former NFL players using the ‘train the trainer’ approach.”
Six main rules to avoid suspension
According to Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press, in-person gambling education is mandatory for players this year. The six main rules the NFL is preaching with its players:
- “Never bet on the NFL: This includes other NFL events such as draft, combine, Pro Bowl and NFL Honors.”
- “Don’t have someone bet for you: Do not ask family, friends, or others to place a bet for you.”
- “Don’t gamble (no bets on sports, casino or card games) at your team facility or stadium, while traveling for a road game, or staying at a team hotel.”
- “Don’t share team ‘inside information’: Don’t share information that hasn’t been announced by the team.”
- “Don’t enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season.”
- “Don’t play daily fantasy football.”
The NFL combined training and education opportunities by assigning an integrity representative to each team, often a retired FBI agent or executive-level police officer.