Former Wisconsin Badgers WR could be gearing up for NFL return

Former Badgers WR could be gearing up for NFL return

Former Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Quintez Cephus could be gearing up for a return to the NFL.

Cephus was out of the league in 2023 after being suspended indefinitely last April for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. Cephus was released by the Detroit Lions after being suspended. He will have to apply to the league for reinstatement ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Lions, Cephus produced 37 receptions for 568 yards and four touchdowns in 22 games with Detroit over three seasons. The wide receiver appeared in four games with Detroit in 2022, recording two catches for 15 yards.

During his time with the Badgers from 2016-2019, he caught 93 passes for 1,496 yards and 13 scores.

His career comes down to whether the NFL decides to reinstate him, and if the free agent can impress a team enough to receive another opportunity.

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Top 11 remaining free-agent wide receivers

Here are the top 11 remaining free-agent wide receivers:

If the Carolina Panthers can’t find pass-catching help in the trade market, then how does the open market currently look?

Here are the top 11 remaining free-agent wide receivers:

 

The NFL is sacrificing its own players at the altar of gambling greed

The NFL is suspending more and more players under unclear rules to make itself look aboveboard while taking in massive gambling revenue.

On June 28, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that several NFL players are expected to receive season-long suspensions for violations of the league’s gambling policy. We don’t know all of those names yet, but we now know that Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere has been suspended for the first games of the 2023 season for such a violation.

He was not the last.

In his statement, Petit-Frere said that the standards held by the NFL in these matters was unclear. There appears to be a lot of that going around. Though several players have been suspended for these alleged violations, it was only on April 19 that the league released a statement confirming its involvement with the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising. The Coalition was touted as “a voluntary association of sports leagues and media entities committed to doing their part to help ensure a responsible approach to sports betting advertising.”.

Consisting of the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, NBCUniversal, and FOX, the Coalition “has committed to implement and maintain consumer protection policies consistent with the following six principles:”

  • Sports Betting Should be Marketed Only to Adults of Legal Betting Age
  • Sports Betting Advertising Should Not Promote Irresponsible or Excessive Gambling or Degrade the Consumer Experience
  • Sports Betting Advertisements Should Not Be Misleading
  • Sports Betting Advertisements Should Be In Good Taste
  • Publishers Should Have Appropriate Internal Reviews of Sports Betting Advertising
  • Publishers Should Review Consumer Complaints Pertaining to Sports Betting Advertising

Two days later, the NFL had another press release to put out. It involved the suspension of five players for various violations of the league’s gambling policy.

Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore of the Detroit Lions, and Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders, are suspended indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. These players may petition for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams of the Lions are suspended for the team’s first six regular season games of the 2023 season. These players are eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games. The suspensions will take effect at the final roster cutdown.

The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, including the practice facility.

A league review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.

The league may say that the gambling policies are reviewed with players and team staffs every season, but if the people at risk for suspensions don’t understand what constitutes a violation, what’s the point of the process?

Perhaps the point from the NFL’s side is to appear as proactive as possible regarding gambling, because the NFL wants as much gambling revenue as possible while still appearing aboveboard in the entire matter.

In August 2021, the league announced agreements with FOX Bet, BetMGM, PointsBet, and WynnBET to become Approved Sportsbook Operators for the 2021 NFL season. These agreements make all four operators eligible to purchase NFL in-game commercial units and other select NFL media inventory. This after announcing agreements with sportsbook partnerships with Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings and FanDuel that April.

“We are pleased to announce this select group as Approved Sportsbook Operators,” said Nana-Yaw Asamoah, Vice President of Business Development for the NFL. “Along with our three Official Sports Betting Partners, this group of operators will help the League to engage fans in responsible and innovative ways this season as the sports betting landscape continues to evolve.”

Put simply, the NFL is trying to generate as much money as possible from these partnerships, with the obvious understanding that they can’t put a stink on the league from an integrity perspective.

When Pete Rozelle suspended Paul Hornung in 1963 for violations of the gambling policy, it was a very different world. Any hint of gambling brought an ardent and attendant fear that professional football would be overrun by those looking to compromise the purity of competition, Packers head coach Vince Lombardi told Hornung to “stay at the foot of the cross.” Hornung was not asked to do so at a time when the NFL had removed the cross, and replaced it with a sports book.

So, it is easy to assume that the NFL’s sudden and startling enforcement of these issues is a counter to the inevitable questions that come with these partnerships. The inverse example might be Major League Baseball, which was a cesspool of fixed plays and games in the late 1800s and early 1900s. When the Black Sox were banned for life after fixing the 1919 World Series, new Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis exacted such a harsh punishment because he wanted there to be no question about the game’s aboveboard status.

It didn’t quite go that way (ask Pete Rose about it), but the perception beat reality for a long time.

Similarly, the NFL is looking to balance a heavy involvement with gambling while putting forth a perception of purity. And if it has to sacrifice its own people, no matter how large or small the infraction, it appears to be perfectly comfortable in doing just that.

You can bet that these suspensions — warranted or not; fair or not — will continue.

Quick reaction and impact of the Lions’ gambling-related suspensions

Breaking down the impact of the Lions’ gambling-related suspensions and roster moves

The Detroit Lions got hit with some major adversity on Friday. The NFL suspended four Lions players for various lengths of time for violating league rules on gambling.

Most notable among the suspensions is the six-game sentence meted out to wide receiver Jameson Williams. Safety C.J. Moore and WRs Stanley Berryhill and Quintez Cephus were also suspended. Berryhill received six games, while Cephus and Moore were suspended indefinitely with a minimum of one year.

The Lions released Cephus and Moore immediately.

It’s a tough blow to the Lions and the considerable positive vibes around the team. Here are a few thoughts on how it impacts the Lions and the players involved.

 

Former Badgers WR suspended by NFL and released by Lions

Former Badger and current NFL wide receiver Quintez Cephus was suspended for the entirety of the 2023 season Friday.

Former Badger and current NFL wide receiver Quintez Cephus was suspended for the entirety of the 2023 season Friday. Cephus was caught gambling on NFL contests and as a result was suspended by the league for a minimum of one season.

Cephus was one out of five NFL players that was suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy with teammate C.J. Moore also receiving a full-season suspension for gambling on NFL action. Additionally, Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were given six-game suspensions for betting on non-NFL action. Finally, Shaka Toney of the Commanders was also suspended for a full season.

Cephus was subsequently cut by the Lions and he will have to apply for reinstatement following the 2023 campaign if he wants to continue his NFL career. Over three seasons with Detroit, the former Badger has compiled 37 catches for 568 yards and four touchdowns in 22 games.

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NFL’s desire for gambling revenue presents an impossible “responsibility” schism

The NFL wants as much gambling revenue as possible, and it’s willing to sacrifice its players for the right perception of purity.

On April 19, the National Football League released a statement confirming its involvement with the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising. The Coalition was touted as “a voluntary association of sports leagues and media entities committed to doing their part to help ensure a responsible approach to sports betting advertising.”.

Consisting of the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, NBCUniversal, and FOX, the Coalition “has committed to implement and maintain consumer protection policies consistent with the following six principles:”

  • Sports Betting Should be Marketed Only to Adults of Legal Betting Age
  • Sports Betting Advertising Should Not Promote Irresponsible or Excessive Gambling or Degrade the Consumer Experience
  • Sports Betting Advertisements Should Not Be Misleading
  • Sports Betting Advertisements Should Be In Good Taste
  • Publishers Should Have Appropriate Internal Reviews of Sports Betting Advertising
  • Publishers Should Review Consumer Complaints Pertaining to Sports Betting Advertising

Two days later, the NFL had another press release to put out. It involved the suspension of five players for various violations of the league’s gambling policy.

Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore of the Detroit Lions, and Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders, are suspended indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. These players may petition for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams of the Lions are suspended for the team’s first six regular season games of the 2023 season. These players are eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games. The suspensions will take effect at the final roster cutdown.

The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, including the practice facility.

A league review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.

“As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league’s gambling policy,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said in a statement. “These players exhibited decision making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately. We are disappointed by the decision making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”

Williams’ representatives released his own statement, detailing the specifics of the violation.

According to a report by ESPN.com’s Eric Woodyard, several members of the Lions’ staff were dismissed in March for violations of league gambling policy.

Add their names to the list started by former Falcons and current Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley, who was given a year-long suspension in March, 2022, and you have quite the assembly of suspended players and fired staffers at a time when the NFL is moving at an accelerated rate to benefit as much as possible from the burgeoning sports betting market — especially through advertising revenue.

In August 2021, the league announced agreements with FOX Bet, BetMGM, PointsBet, and WynnBET to become Approved Sportsbook Operators for the 2021 NFL season. These agreements make all four operators eligible to purchase NFL in-game commercial units and other select NFL media inventory. This after announcing agreements with sportsbook partnerships with Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings and FanDuel that April.

“We are pleased to announce this select group as Approved Sportsbook Operators,” said Nana-Yaw Asamoah, Vice President of Business Development for the NFL. “Along with our three Official Sports Betting Partners, this group of operators will help the League to engage fans in responsible and innovative ways this season as the sports betting landscape continues to evolve.”

Put simply, the NFL is trying to generate as much money as possible from these partnerships, with the obvious understanding that they can’t put a stink on the league from an integrity perspective.

When Pete Rozelle suspended Paul Hornung in 1963 for violations of the gambling policy, it was a very different world. Any hint of gambling brought an ardent and attendant fear that professional football would be overrun by those looking to compromise the purity of competition, Packers head coach Vince Lombardi told Hornung to “stay at the foot of the cross.” Hornung was not asked to do so at a time when the NFL had removed the cross, and replaced it with a sports book.

So, it is easy to assume that the NFL’s sudden and startling enforcement of these issues is a counter to the inevitable questions that come with these partnerships. The inverse example might be Major League Baseball, which was a cesspool of fixed plays and games in the late 1800s and early 1900s. When the Black Sox were banned for life after fixing the 1919 World Series, new Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis exacted such a harsh punishment because he wanted there to be no question about the game’s aboveboard status.

It didn’t quite go that way (ask Pete Rose about it), but the perception beat reality for a long time.

Similarly, the NFL is looking to balance a heavy involvement with gambling while putting forth a perception of purity. And if it has to sacrifice its own people, no matter how large or small the infraction, it appears to be perfectly comfortable in doing just that.

Lions release Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore following gambling suspensions

The Lions didn’t waste any time releasing Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore after they were suspended for gambling violations

The Detroit Lions moved on from two of the four players who were suspended due to gambling violations on Friday. The team released safety C.J. Moore and wide receiver Quintez Cephus after both of them were served indefinite suspensions for gambling; they will miss at least one season as a result.

Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were also suspended six games but they remain on the roster.

Cephus had been with the Lions since 2020 when he was selected in the fifth round of the draft. He played 22 games and made six starts, totaling 568 yards receiving with four touchdowns. He played just four games last season and five in 2021.

Moore was with the Lions for the last four seasons, playing 56 games with one start. He was primarily a special teams player, only playing about 15% of the snaps the last two seasons in Detroit.

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According to Ian Rapoport, Cephus and Moore were found to have bet on NFL games, which is why they were suspended at least a year. Williams and Berryhill were found to have bet on college games, doing so at the Lions’ facility.

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NFL suspends five players for violating league’s gambling policy

The NFL suspended four Detroit Lions players and one from the Washington Commanders and we’re looking at how that’ll impact the Eagles and the NFL Draft

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Friday that the NFL is suspending five players, including four from the Detroit Lions, for violating the league’s gambling policy.

Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill each have six-game bans, per Rapoport, while wideout Quintez Cephus and defensive back C.J. Moore are suspended indefinitely.

Washington Commanders pass rusher Shaka Toney also is suspended indefinitely.

Detroit reacted swiftly, releasing Cephus and Moore while acknowledging the suspensions for Williams and Berryhill.

With the draft less than one week away, we’re looking at how it’ll impact the NFL draft and the Eagles.

Quintez Cephus headed back to season-ending IR

Cephus was designated to return on Dec. 7th but his 21-day window ended without the WR being ready to play

Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus was hoping to return to the field at the end of the 2022 season. Out since Week 4 when he suffered a foot injury, Cephus was designated to return from injured reserve on December 7th.

Cephus was unable to show enough in the last three weeks for the Lions to activate him for the final two games or any potential postseason action. The Lions placed Cephus on I.R. on Wednesday, ending his third NFL season.

The 21-day window for the team to activate Cephus ran out. Teams have that long to either activate a player, as they did with RB Craig Reynolds, or lose him to season-ending I.R. Observers in Allen Park did not note Cephus’ presence in recent practices even after his return designation.

Cephus ends the 2022 season with two receptions for 15 yards in four total games, one of them a start.

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Injured WR Quintez Cephus returns to Lions practice

Cephus injured his foot in Week 4 and has been on IR ever since

There was a new face working with the Detroit Lions wide receivers on Wednesday. A familiar face, but one not seen in Allen Park in several months.

Quintez Cephus participated in his first practice since the first week of October. Cephus suffered a foot injury in the Lions’ Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The third-year wideout suffered the injury on a play where he made his second catch of the season.

The Lions officially started the 21-day activation clock for Cephus on Wednesday. Detroit must either activate Cephus by December 28th or lose him for the rest of the season to injured reserve.

Keeping Cephus healthy has been a battle for Detroit ever since selecting the Wisconsin wideout in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. He’s spent time in all three of his seasons on the injured reserve and also missed a considerably portion of the 2022 training camp with a knee injury. Cephus has 37 receptions for 568 yards and four TDs in 22 career games.

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