Several hours ahead of Denver Broncos veterans had been set to report to training camp, the NFL suspended Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike on Monday evening for violating the league’s plan on sporting activities betting.
Uwazurike, a 2022 fourth-round select out of Iowa Condition, will be suspended via July 24, 2024, according to the NFL. Uwazurike is the 10th player this year to be suspended by the league for a gambling-linked violation. Whilst it is unclear if the lineman placed any wagers on Broncos video games, the NFL is suspending him indefinitely for betting on league game titles through the 2022-23 time.
Final season, Uwazurike recorded 15 tackles in 8 games with the Broncos. With the departure of Shelby Harris in the offseason, Uwazurike was projected to start at defensive end and envisioned to transfer inside on functioning downs.
Mounting proof of a suspension
As early as June, there ended up rumblings that a Broncos participant was underneath investigation for violating the league’s gambling coverage, multiple sources told Sporting activities Tackle at the time. The speculation intensified in July at The Countrywide Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) 2023 Summer time Meeting in Denver.
When asked by Athletics Handle if regulators experienced been informed by an operator of a pattern of betting action involving an NFL player, a significant-level formal from the Colorado Division of Gaming responded that he was not mindful of the subject.
Eyioma Uwazurike is suspended for at the very least a calendar year.
The most significant competition on the Broncos’ roster is at defensive line, where 50 percent of the jobs (or possibly additional) are up for grabs.https://t.co/uOJSvTfgPb
— Henry Chisholm (@HenryChisholm) July 24, 2023
Rumors began to circulate in late June when the NFL suspended four players for gambling-similar infractions, together with Colts defensive back Isaiah Rodgers. Below NFL regulations, players are not permitted to location a wager on any sport from from inside of a league or club facility. The similar regulations use for players who try to make a wager on a staff bus or team airplane or in a team hotel. NFL gamers are prohibited from wagering on league game titles entirely, even outside the house of the office.
Indication Up For The Sports Handle Newsletter!
Rodgers, who reportedly bet on a teammate to strike the around in a speeding prop, is amid a handful of players who had been sanctioned in the “second wave” of 2023 gambling suspensions by the league. Asked then if a “third wave” was imminent, an NFL spokesman declined remark. The first wave happened in April when the NFL suspended four members of the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders defensive lineman Shaka Toney. To begin with, 10-15 gamers have been below investigation for prospective violations of the NFL’s gambling policy, market sources instructed Sports Take care of.
David Highhill of the #NFL spoke at #NCLGS‘ summer months conf Fri, one particular working day soon after Roger Goodell indicated that the league’s insurance policies on athletics betting “will evolve.” In prioritizing integrity, the NFL supports required data sharing in between regulators, leagues, and sportsbooks, he mentioned pic.twitter.com/9mVJitLD8c
— Matt Rybaltowski (@MattRybaltowski) July 14, 2023
In light-weight of the recent suspensions, the NFL amplified initiatives to teach gamers on the implications of violating the coverage. League officers presented the integrity coaching application to much more than a dozen teams in June, with plans to visit at least 6 some others. Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters that his club received a teaching packet from the league, which the workforce used to produce its individual PowerPoint presentation.
“If you are a teacher and 50 % your class receives a D, you far better glance at you,” Payton instructed reporters past month. “It’s not the policy, but it’s the implementation, the knowing, and the educating of the coverage.”
The Broncos mentioned in a assertion that the NFL educated the workforce of Uwazurike’s suspension before on Monday.
“Our firm entirely cooperated with this investigation and requires issues pertaining to the integrity of the sport incredibly seriously,” the Broncos claimed in the assertion.
Uwazurike is set to drop a 2023 foundation salary of $870,000. Following lacking the postseason in 2022-23, the Broncos have odds of +198 at FanDuel to make the playoffs in Payton’s very first time with the crew.
