After serving a year-long ban for gambling, safety C.J. Moore of the Detroit Lions is set to return for the 2024 campaign. Moore was a standout player for Ole Miss. Following his and his teammates’ suspensions by the league, he did not participate in the 2023 season.
The safety served a suspension in 2023 along with seven other Detroit players for breaking the NFL’s gambling regulations. He was suspended for the whole season, along with wide receiver Quintez Cephus. Following their recent reinstatement, Cephus inked a contract with the Buffalo Bills.
Moore signed a one-year contract to play for the Lions in 2023. However, he was released after being issued a suspension.
How will Moore play in 2024?
Moore’s First Three Years
The talented safety originally signed with the Lions in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss. He ultimately contributed significantly to the club, especially in special teams. This role as a vital member of special teams turned into his calling card.
From 2019-2022, Moore posted 48 combined tackles and 2 quarterback hits. He also had two pass defenses, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He also lined up for 344 defensive snaps.
Before Detroit signed Moore this week, the 2023 undrafted free agent Brandon Joseph was the only other genuine safety on the team.
A Promising Move for the Lions
Currently, the team’s depth at the safety position is weak. For the first time this season, Ifeatu Melifonwu will start at the top of the lineup, while Kerby Joseph will miss training camp due to hip surgery.
Melifonwu enjoyed a breakout season after taking over for Tracy Walker toward the end of the season.
Head Coach Dan Campbell said during the league meetings that the team would move safety Brian Branch from nickel cornerback early in the season.
His career total over four NFL seasons is forty-eight tackles with one interception.
The Ironic Gambling Rule History of the NFL
Receivers Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams of the Lions were also banned for six games for further gambling offenses, which the organization claimed involved wagering on other sports from an NFL facility.
Some received six-game penalties, while others received permanent bans. Those who were placed on an indefinite suspension can petition to be reinstated. Moore and four other players were reinstated by the league.
The National Football League (NFL) overturned its long-standing aversion against sports gambling, leading to the first punishments in decades. The Raiders’ relocation to Las Vegas was approved by club owners in 2017 and led to significant gaming corporations and casinos partnering with the NFL and other professional American leagues.
But a significant turning point occurred in 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned a 1992 statute that outlawed sports betting in almost all states.
Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that players who bet on football games should face “the most substantial sanction” as it jeopardized the “integrity of the game.”
In one instance, a player who was in Florida and apart from his squad in November 2021 utilized a gambling app to make three parlay bets.
According to an NFL official, the organization notifies payers and staff members every year about laws that forbid them from betting on any NFL game, practice, or other event, including the draft.
While wagering on other sports is permitted, players are not permitted to gamble while working, traveling to games, or appearing in promotional capacities for the league.
About the Author
Michelle has a knack for all things sports. A life-long member of the Raider Nation, Michelle has learned football patience over the years. Follow her on Twitter at @Michellebe1717 and follow us @TotalApexSports.
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