After a spate of suspensions this offseason, including Washinton Commanders reserve defensive end Shaka Toney, the NFL is doubling down on its efforts to reinforce the league's gambling policy for players.
Here are the six "key rules" that league officials have emphasized to players: 1) don't bet on the NFL 2) don't gamble at your team facility, while traveling for a road game or staying at a team hotel 3) don't have someone bet for you 4) don't share team "inside information" 5) don't enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season 6) don't play daily fantasy football.
Team 980's Chris Russell was incensed that the NFL even had to go to the players and expressly emphasize these simple-to-follow rules to ensure that the integrity of the game that millions of fans care about – and many millions wager on – is unimpeachable.
"All you have to do is get your head out of your ass," Russell said. "All you have to do is not be a knucklehead. All you have to do is read a sign. All you have to do is ask a question. All you have to do is pause before you do something that any reasonable American would go, 'You know I play in the NFL, I work in the NFL should I do that? Let me run it up the flag pole. Let me go up to [Commanders Senior Director of Player Development] Malcolm Blacken's office."
Russell added that none of this is hard to follow and he doesn't feel bad for Toney at all for running afoul of the league's rules.
"There are rules in the workplace, right?" Russell said, before admitting that he has "not read the Audacy employee handbook," referencing the parent company that Team 980 is under.
Russell added that the way he doesn't trip up when he is at work is "common sense dummy. You know how I know that? D'uh!!! Who does that? Right?"
And when it comes to the suspensions for the players, Russell seems to believe the league was too lenient.
"The kid with the Indianapolis Colts... you should never play the game ever again. Stop being a dum-dum. It's not that hard," Russell said. "Every workplace environment has rules. It's not unfair, it's not wrong, it's not too harsh, it's not too anything. Don't take performance-enhancing drugs and don't gamble in an NFL facility, hotel, or team plane. It's that simple. Read a rule. Read a sign! ASK before you do. Not that hard."
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