Wager policy revised, ban of trio gets lifted
The NFL has revised its gambling policy and is reinstating three players who previously received longer suspensions.
Tennessee’s Nicholas Petit-Frere and Detroit’s Jameson Williams can return to their teams Monday. Free agent Stanley Berryhill will be eligible to participate in all activities, including games, starting Tuesday. All three players were initially suspended six games.
The new policy reduces the punishment for gambling on non-NFL sports from within team facilities to two games. The minimum suspension for gambling on NFL games increases to one year; betting on your team has been raised to two years.
Offering inside information or tipping is a minimum one-year suspension, as is third-party or proxy betting. Actual or attempted game fixing is a permanent ban.
The league said it periodically reviews the gambling policy “to ensure that it is responsive to changing circumstances and fully addresses our commitment to protect the integrity of our game.”
Jones arrested in Vegas
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones has been arrested on accusations of violating a domestic violence temporary protection order, authorities said.
Vegas-area police arrested the 33year-old early Friday. He’s being held at the Clark County Detention Center with bail set at $15,000, according to online records. He’s scheduled to appear in court Dec. 4.
There has been growing concern for Jones’ mental health due to peculiar behavior on social media. In one video, he spent about 25 minutes talking about a variety of topics before breaking down in tears when discussing Aaron Hernandez’s death, whom he referred to as “Chico.”
Monday, in a since-deleted post, he said he was taken to a hospital “against my will” by the Las Vegas Fire Department a week prior.
Poyer out, Hamlin in?
Bills starting safety Jordan Poyer was ruled out from playing against the Miami Dolphins this weekend, potentially opening the door for Damar Hamlin to appear in his first regular-season game since going into cardiac arrest during a Jan. 2 game.
Poyer hasn’t practiced this week due to a knee injury. It’s unclear when he was hurt, and coach Sean McDermott hasn’t revealed the extent of the injury except for listing the seven-year starter as day to day on Thursday.
Poyer’s absence Sunday will likely lead to primary backup Taylor Rapp filling the starting spot alongside Micah Hyde. The injury could also lead to Hamlin making his season debut after being a healthy inactive through the first three games.
Buffalo’s secondary will be tested by a Dolphins offense with the receiving tandem of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who has been cleared to play after missing one game in concussion protocol.
Watson questionable
Deshaun Watson watched most of Cleveland Browns practice from the sideline Friday, and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Baltimore because of a shoulder injury that limited him all week. Coach Kevin Stefanski said he’s “hopeful” Watson will be healthy enough to go. The Ravens, meanwhile, ruled out receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) and Rashod Bateman (hamstring) . . . Two other quarterbacks got better news: Panthers rookie Bryce Young will start against the Minnesota Vikings after missing the team’s Week 3 loss at Seattle with an ankle injury, and the Colts’ Anthony Richardson is expected to start against the Los Angeles Rams after clearing concussion protocol . . . Tyler Higbee, the top receiving tight end in Rams franchise history, was rewarded Friday with a two-year contract extension through 2025 . . . Chargers center Corey Linsley will be placed on injured reserve with a heart issue that does not require emergency care . . . Giants running back Saquon Barkley was limited in practice for the second straight day and his status for Monday against Seattle remains uncertain because of a sprained right ankle . . . A Tennessee judge ended a conservatorship agreement reached in 2004 between former NFL player Michael Oher and Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the Memphis couple who took him in when he was in high school. The deal allowed the Tuohys to control Oher’s finances.