Key takeaways:
– Jayden Daniels, the second overall pick by the Washington Commanders, admits to betting against New York Giants’ Malik Nabers for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
– Daniels publicly accepted the wager on a podcast, leading to potential violation of NFL’s strict gambling policy.
– The NFL has a history of dealing strictly with related offences dating back to high-profile suspensions in the 1940s and 1960s.
– Tennessee Titans’ wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s recent scandal serves as a stark reminder of potential penalties.
Risky Bet by Daniels under NFL’s Radar
Jayden Daniels, the promising new quarterback from Washington Commanders, has recently shed light on an intriguing bet with Malik Nabers, the receiver for New York Giants, on the “All Facts No Brakes” podcast. The bet, valued at $10,000, was placed on who amongst the two rookies would clinch the much-coveted NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Nabers, picked sixth overall at the 2024 NFL Draft, was the first to make the wager public on “The Pivot” podcast.
NFL: A Strict Stance Against Gambling
The NFL has continually maintained a stringent standpoint on gambling activities of any nature related to the game. According to the league’s official gambling policy of 2022, betting on any event linked to the sport is strictly prohibited for all NFL personnel. FanDuel, a renowned betting platform, currently has Daniels at +600 odds and Nabers at +1400 odds to take home the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
A Look Back at NFL’s History with Gambling
For a large part of the last century, the NFL has been dealing with gambling scandals. It goes as far back as 1947 when Giants quarterback Frank Filchock and running back Merle Hapes received lifetime bans for conspiring to fix the NFL Championship Game. Another scandal in 1963 saw household names, Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras receiving a one-season suspension for wagering on games.
Recent Gambling Scandals in the NFL
With the rise of online gambling, the NFL has been tackling a surge of related suspensions. One standout example is current Tennessee Titans wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, who was slapped with a suspension for the entire 2022 season for placing bets on NFL games. Ridley, who was part of the Atlanta Falcons at the time, later admitted to the mistake in The Players’ Tribune. Despite the gambling suspension, Ridley resumed his career and signed a rich deal with the Titans in 2024.
An Uphill Battle for Daniels
As Daniels possibly faces a breach of the NFL’s gambling policy, the road ahead could be tumultuous. The league has historically handed out hefty penalties for such incidents. However, the likes of Ridley showcase that a gambling-related blunder isn’t necessarily a dead-end to one’s career.
Whether this gamble will cost Daniels remains to be seen. But it’s clear that keeping within the NFL’s stringent rules is part of the game, both on and off the field.