Broncos DL Eyioma Uwazurike suspended for gambling on NFL games
Broncos second-year defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league’s gambling policy, the league said in a statement.
The NFL said Uwazurike, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, bet on NFL games during his rookie season.
He is not eligible to apply for reinstatement until July 24, 2024, at the earliest.
“We were informed by the NFL today that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy,” the Broncos said in a statement. “Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously. The Denver Broncos will continue to provide all members of our organization with the necessary education, resources and support to ensure compliance with the NFL’s Gambling Policy.”
Representatives for Uwazurike did not immediately respond to messages from The Post seeking comment.
Uwazurike is the first Broncos player to be suspended for gambling this offseason, but the league has been dealing with a rash of violations to its policy. He is the 10th player to be suspended this offseason and the 11th overall in the past two years. Seven of those players have been suspended for at least an entire NFL season.
Though Denver was informed Monday, the investigation into Uwazurike’s betting would have taken place over a period of time this offseason dating back weeks and perhaps months.
Uwazurike took part in Denver’s offseason program and would likely have been fighting for a job on the starting defensive line during training camp, which begins Friday.
First-year Broncos coach Sean Payton said they used time during the offseason program to educate players on the league’s gambling policies.
“We’re professional teachers. The packet we received, we looked at, studied it closely and then we presented it in our own PowerPoint,” he said. “I probably had 20 minutes on it to really make sure everyone has it. If you’re a teacher and half your class gets a ‘D,’ you better look at yourself. It’s not the policy, but it’s the implementation, the understanding, and the educating of the policy.”
By that time, of course, violations from the 2022 season would have already been months in the past.
Now Denver will be without Uwazurike for at least 12 months. Uwazurike will miss not only the entire 2023 season but, given the timing of his suspension, also the entirety of Denver’s 2024 offseason program.
This story will be updated.
Source: The Denver Post
