Key Takeaways:
– Quintez Cephus, former Detroit Lions wide receiver, has been released from the Buffalo Bills.
– Cephus’s suspension from the NFL, including his involvement in a gambling scandal, led to his departure from the Lions.
– Former Lions players Stanley Berryhill, C.J. Moore, and Jameson Williams also faced disciplinary action.
– C.J. Moore has returned to the Lions under a new contract, leaving Cephus searching for a new team.
Buffalo Bills Part Ways with Quintez Cephus
The Buffalo Bills confirmed on May 16 that they have released former Detroit Lions wide receiver, Quintez Cephus, marking a brief stint for the player who recently returned from an NFL suspension. The Bills signed Cephus on April 28, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but his tenure with the team barely stretched past two weeks.
NFL Suspension and Betting Charges
This truncated period is, however, the first time Cephus has been a part of an NFL roster since his suspension from the league for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. The league handed an indefinite suspension to him for betting on NFL games, effectively sidelining the player for the entire 2023 season.
Coupled with Cephus’s suspension, three other Lions players found themselves in hot water. Stanley Berryhill, C.J. Moore, and Jameson Williams were the other casualties of this disciplinary action.
Breaking Down the Suspensions
C.J. Moore’s case mirrored Cephus’s as both received indefinite suspensions. In contrast, Berryhill was hit with a 6-game suspension. Regrettably for the Lions, the team had to release all three players. Jameson Williams’s situation was a bit different as he also received a 6-game suspension, later shortened to four games. The reason for the reduction was that Williams didn’t bet on NFL games, a saving grace in his case.
Lions Welcome Back Moore
After this flux of massive suspensions, the Lions inked a new contract with C.J. Moore on May 7. The new agreement marks the first step towards the recovery and reinstatement of these suspended players.
Cephus on the Hunt for New Opportunities
This leaves Quintez Cephus once again on the free agent market. After a short stint with the Buffalo Bills, it’s back to the drawing board for him. Seeking a new job, it’s clear that his path back to the NFL is shaky and fraught with uncertainty. Despite this, he is determined to make a comeback.
His release signifies a continued series of obstacles in the former Lions wide receiver’s professional journey. But as the dust settles around these mass suspensions, it is hoped that the players can come back stronger, with valuable lessons learned about their conduct off-field.
The future of these players is up for speculation, and it remains to be seen how or where Cephus will bounce back. Regardless of where they land, the industry will watch with interest as Cephus, and his fellow implicated players, attempt to turn around a tumultuous period in their professional lives.