The NFL suspended four Lions players—wide receivers Quintez Cephus, Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams and safety C.J. Moore—on Friday for violating the league’s gambling policy.
However, while Cephus and Moore were suspended indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games, Berryhill and Williams received six-game suspensions for other-gambling policy violations that include placing wagers “from a NFL facility on non-NFL games.”
Alliance Sports, who represents Williams, released a statement saying that its client “takes full responsibility for his actions and is very apologetic to the NFL, his teammates and the fans and city of Detroit.” However, the organization also clarified the nature of Williams’s gambling violation, stating that it was “not for betting on football but rather due to a technical rule” regarding the “location in which the online bet was placed-and which would otherwise be allowed by the NFL outside of the club’s facility.”
“Jameson [Williams] would never intentionally jeopardize the integrity of the game he loves so much and looks forward to getting back to his team as soon as possible,” the statement read.
Brad Holmes, the Lions executive vice president and general manager, announced that the franchise released both Cephus and Moore following the suspensions in a statement as well addressed Berryhill and Williams’s punishment from the league.
“We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately,” the statement read. “We are disappointed by the decision making demonstrated by Stanley [Berryhill] and Jameson [Williams] and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”
Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney was also suspended by the league for the 2023 season for betting on NFL games during the 2022 season.
