Josh Shaw has been suspended all of the 2020 season for betting on NFL games. Now a few details about the situation are coming out.
Shaw has been on injured reserve since late August due to a shoulder injury. The defensive back, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March, has not been around the team since the preseason, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport says Shaw was with some high school friends in Las Vegas and placed some sports bets using his own players card. A players card is obtained through a casino where one gambles and is often used by casinos to track gambling activity. Gamblers can receive incentives and rewards based on their playing activity.
On the Josh Shaw suspension, via sources close to him: Shaw went to a Vegas casino this fall with buddies from HS. He’s on IR & hasn’t been around the team since preseason. Shaw placed sports bets for the 1st time based on misinterpreted understanding of the Supreme Court ruling
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 29, 2019
More on Josh Shaw: He used his own player card & ID. Shaw flew to NY immediately upon notice to meet with the NFL & cooperated fully. Shaw has the opportunity to appeal what is the harshest gambling penalty in decades. He considers it an innocent mistake with a severe outcome.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 29, 2019
The NFL is concerned about avoiding scandals. They don’t want the perception out there that games may be influenced by gambling or that players are using privileged information.
Some may say this is an innocent mistake and the league is coming down too hard on Shaw. I disagree. All players know they’re not supposed to bet on games. If the league needs to make an example out of Shaw to discourage the behavior, they have the right to do so. And if you’re dumb enough to bet on games while using your players card where your activity is being tracked, you don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt.
