Arr, Broncos' Sean Payton be a-squawkin' like a landlubber afoul o' the NFL's judgment! Ye scurvy dog Uwazurike be walkin' the plank for gamblin'!
2023-07-26
Arr, mateys! Denver Broncos' captain, Sean Payton, doth reckon that this here surge o' gambling infractions ain't solely the doin' o' the scallywag players. Methinks there be more to this tale, me hearties!
In a humorous twist, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, adopting the language of a 17th century pirate, has criticized the NFL’s gambling policy after one of his players, defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike, was suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games during the 2022 season. Payton, who just recently came out of retirement to take on the Broncos coaching job, believes that the league should share some of the blame for the players’ actions. He expressed his discontent by saying, "When you have a bunch of players getting D’s, you have to start looking at the message." Uwazurike, a fourth-round draft pick from Iowa State, will miss the upcoming season and will not be eligible for reinstatement until next July. He is the 10th player to be suspended this year for violating the league’s gambling policy. Payton believes that the league’s messaging and handling of the situation is also responsible for the players’ actions. He suggested that players were using their phones to place bets while at the facility, which could easily be traced. Payton emphasized that players are not allowed to bet on football, but can bet on other sports, dogs, ponies, and craps, as long as it is done outside of the facility. Despite his criticisms, Payton did not absolve the players of fault, but rather highlighted the need for the league to take a different approach in addressing the issue. Currently, all NFL personnel, including players, are prohibited from engaging in any form of gambling at club or league facilities, but are allowed to make non-sports wagers at legally operated casinos and horse or dog racing tracks during their personal time.