The identity of the latest NFL player to receive NFL discipline for violation of the league’s gambling policy has been learned. Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike has been banned indefinitely, as noted (on Twitter) by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Uwazurike was found to have wagered on NFL games in 2022, his rookie season. As a result, he will now miss the upcoming campaign and is ineligible to apply for reinstatement until July 24, 2024. The news marks a blow to the Broncos’ defensive front, and to the 25-year-old’s career future.
A fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, Uwazurike appeared in eight games last year, seeing playing time in the latter half of the season. He saw a 31% snap share on defense, recording 17 tackles and a pair of QB hits while also blocking a field goal. Uwazurike was in line to take on a larger workload this season, but that will no longer be the case. The Broncos saw Dre’Mont Jones depart in free agency, and replaced him with ex-Cardinal Zach Allen. The latter, along with the likes of Matt Henningsen, D.J. Jones and Mike Purcell, will log most of the snaps along Denver’s D-line.
“We were informed by the NFL today that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy,” the Broncos said in a statement. “Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously.
“The Denver Broncos will continue to provide all members of our organization with the necessary education, resources and support to ensure compliance with the NFL’s Gambling Policy.”
The 2023 offseason has been littered with players being issued either full-season bans for gambling on NFL games, or shorter punishments for placing wagers on non-NFL events while at team facilities. Uwazurike has joined that growing list, and he will now spend at least the next calendar year out of the Broncos’ plans and away from football.
I’m not a fan of these suspensions unless they are betting on the games they played in or possibly on any nfl games in general. NFLPA needs to step up like they do w domestic violence guys
The NFL’s popularity has exploded because of gambling and fantasy football (which is just another form of gambling). There can be zero tolerance for even the tiniest sign the integrity of the games could be compromised. The NFLPA knows this and isn’t going to get in the way of everybody’s cash cow.
Has the nfl investigated any game officials?
Check their phones, run their SSN –
The integrity of the game is already threatened by poor officiating without investigating if any of these guys are running some bets. I doubt Goodell would want to look too hard anyway because he’s aware of the public backlash that resulted the last time the NFL had to rely on replacement officials.
He would’ve gotten a lesser punishment had he punched his pregnant girlfriend because … you know … NFL priorities
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Every NFL player who wants to gamble should change their name to John Smith or Ron Johnson, as a name like Eyioma Uwazurike makes it too easy for them to spot you.
I think the obvious choice for a name change would be Josh Gordon. Then you could count on being re-instated from a suspension at least 6 times.
I’d go with Roger Dodger Goodell