Patriots' Jonathan Jones speaks out against gambling suspensions for NFL players
Does Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones have a good point when it comes to the NFL suspensions for gambling?
Jones, the former Auburn star, shared his thoughts on the gambling suspensions via his Twitter feed. He wrote: “I understand rules are rules. But I can risk my life so that my team wins but I can’t risk 1k on my team winning.” And he punctuated it with a shrug emoji.
For the second time this off season, the NFL announced several suspensions because of gambling. On Thursday, the league announced the suspensions of three players, who will have to miss at least a year. The players are Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Colts and free agent Demetrius Taylor, who spent last season on Detroit’s practice squad. The league suspended the three indefinitely for gambling on NFL games. The three can ask the league for reinstatement once they serve a year of a penalty.
Meanwhile, the league also handed a six-game suspension to Titans offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere. The league penalized Petit-Frere for placing bets at team facilities. However, he did not gamble on NFL games.
The Titans kept Petit-Frere on the roster. He can be part of training camp and preseason games. However, he can’t play in a regular season game until October. Meanwhile, the Colts waived Rodgers and Berry. The Lions already had released Taylor weeks ago.
Back in April, the NFL announced the first round of gambling suspensions. The league suspended five players, including four from Detroit, for placing bets. They were Jameson Williams, Quintez Cephus, Stanley Berryhill and C.J. Moore from Detroit. Plus, the league also punished Shaka Toney of the Commanders with an indefinite suspension. The Lions waived every player but Williams, who received a six-game penalty. So far, the Commanders are keeping Toney on the team.
The NFL gambling rules state that a player can’t bet on league games. The other restrictions preclude players from placing bets while on team property. Also, while traveling for road games, players can’t wager from the hotel or while with the team in other areas.
So does Jonathan Jones have a point? He engaged with his Twitter followers to debate the issue.
One NFL fan wrote: “Mr Jones the reason for that is because it ruins the integrity of the game. Who is to say players don’t start betting on their team to lose and purposefully throwing the games to win bets.”
Jones replied “you could limit bets to be only for your team’s benefits.”
Another fan wrote: “You can literally bet on any other sport to feed that addiction.” And Jones told him “I don’t bet on sports (the return on investment) isn’t that great. I’m only arguing logic.”