Former Georgia high school standout one of 5 NFL players suspended for gambling violations

DETROIT — The National Football League suspended five players after an investigation found they violated the league’s gambling policy. One of the players grew up in Georgia.

The Detroit Lions’ Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore and the Washington Commanders’ Shaka Toney were suspended indefinitely through at least the end of the 2023 season. Two other Lions players, Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams, have been suspended for the first six regular season games.

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Cephus grew up in Macon, Georgia and played as a standout at wide receiver and cornerback for Stratford Academy. The Lions cut Cephus and Moore after the NFL’s announcement.

The investigation found that no inside information was used when the players allegedly made their bets.

“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,” the league said.

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The Associated Press reports that gambling suspensions have been rare for the NFL. The most recent involved former Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who stepped away from the team in Oct. 2021.

Less than six months later, the NFL announced in March that Ridley violated the league’s gambling policies. He sat out the entire 2022 season with his suspension and had to forfeit his $11.1 million paycheck for “betting” on NFL games, including games the Falcons played.

Officials said they found no evidence that inside information was used, and no games were compromised. The Falcons eventually traded Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ridley published a letter to fans on the Players Tribune website last month opening up about his suspension, calling it the “worst mistake of my life.”

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