Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders, Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts, and three former Detroit Lions players all had a major move made by the NFL on Thursday.
On June 29, Berry, free agency defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor, and former Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers were the three players placed on indefinite suspension. Nicholas Petit-Frere, an offensive tackle with the Tennessee Titans in the past, was also suspended that day, but it was just for the first six games of the 2023 campaign.
On April 21, of last year, five players were fined for participating in sports betting, including Toney, safety C.J. Moore, and wideout Quintez Cephus. That was a particularly awful day for Detroit, as wide receivers Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams, two former colleagues of the Lions, were also suspended. Moore and Cephus were among them.
After his suspension, Rodgers was released by Indianapolis and signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in August. In 2023, he did not play in any Eagles games.
Berryhill and Williams lost six games as a result of their acts, while Moore and Cephus received permanent suspensions. Less than a month passed after the release of the former.
The NFL changed its gambling policy, and after just four games, Williams and Berryhill’s penalties were lifted.
After serving his sentence and going through a difficult training camp, the former Alabama star made 12 receptions for 354 yards and two scores on 42 targets in 12 regular-season games, adding to Detroit’s potent attack.
In three postseason games over the winter, Williams added six receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown, helping the Lions make an unexpected run to the NFC Championship game.
Berryhill signed a contract with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in December, two months following his release. In mid-January, he signed a contract with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.
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