Malik Nabers said on “The Pivot” podcast the night of the draft that he had a $10,000 bet with Jayden Daniels, his former LSU quarterback, on who would win the NFL offensive rookie of the year title following this season. This didn’t raise many eyebrows, but now that Daniels has verified the bet while appearing on Keyshawn Johnson’s “All the Facts No Brakes” show, it’s become news.
Players are initially briefed about the league’s gambling policy, which was amended last fall, during their teams’ rookie minicamps. For the Commanders, it began Thursday with players arriving at the team’s Ashburn facility for physicals and meetings, which included presentations on league and team protocols. Rookies will take the field on Friday and Saturday.
In 2023, the NFL updated its policy to impose more severe sanctions for some offences while reducing penalties for others. The most recent policy does not appear to have explicit language referring to private bets between friends and relatives.
ESPN provided additional information on the NFL’s amended gambling policy and what it implies for Daniels and other NFL players.
However, the gamble is unlikely to come true. According to one team source, rookies will learn about the gambling policy during their rookie minicamp, which begins Thursday with orientation sessions. The bet may be subsequently cancelled.
ESPN contacted the NFL league office to see if this would violate its gambling policy, but did not receive an instant response. According to the league’s policy, NFL workers are barred from “placing, soliciting or facilitating any bet, whether directly or through a third party,” on any NFL game, practice, or other league event, such as the draft or combine. It involves wagers on a game’s outcome, statistics, the score, or individual performance, as well as other prop bets.
The 2022 gambling policy indicated that “private wagers between teammates, family and friends, or others” were considered gambling, but this was not included in the updated 2023 policy.
Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers will not be punished for a bet between two former teammates, but they will receive reminders against gambling from the team and the league, as well as from the media. Last year, several players were penalized for betting infractions, including Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney. That is not this, but the NFL will defend the shield while providing odds on the season opener.
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