Lions News

[whatever_gong82]

NFL reducing penalties for non-NFL gambling offenses: Sources



By The Athletic Staff
2h ago


By Dianna Russini, Mike Jones, Kalyn Kahler and Colton Pouncy


The NFL is changing its gambling policy, including reducing the penalty for prior violations from a six-game suspension to a four-game suspension, league sources said Friday. Here’s what you need to know:

*- Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams and Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nick Petit-Frere will be reinstated effective Monday and available for Week 5 games, league sources said.

*- The NFL is also modifying the gambling policy moving forward. Non-NFL betting in the workplace or while working will now carry a two-game suspension, with the second offense being six games.

The updated rules, according to league sources, are as follows:


Updated NFL gambling policy

*- Betting on NFL: indefinite suspension, minimum of one year or minimum of two years if player bets on an NFL game involving his team

*- Actual or attempted game fixing: permanent banishment from the NFL

*- Inside information and tipping: indefinite suspension, minimum of one year

*- Third-party or proxy betting: indefinite suspension, minimum of one year

*- Betting (other than NFL) in the workplace or while working:

#- First violation: two-game suspension without pay

#- Second violation: six-game suspension without pay

#- Third violation: suspension without pay for at least one year


The Athletic’s instant analysis:


What these changes signal for NFL and players


In getting the punishment for betting on non-NFL sporting events reduced from six to two games, new NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell gets his first win since being elected as DeMaurice Smith’s replacement earlier this summer. Howell worked directly with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to get this punishment modified, according to a person briefed on the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment publicly on the matter.


It’s also a positive that the two leaders are establishing a good working relationship. Remember, this is the NFL’s policy, and it isn’t part of the collective bargaining agreement, so Goodell didn’t have to work with Howell on this, but he saw it as beneficial. It’s still a bit of a head-scratcher that a player is free to bet on non-NFL games at home, but would get punished if he did so on team property — whether in his car, on the sidewalk outside of the facility or while enjoying his lunch. And it’s still hypocritical since owners are making millions of dollars off of legalized sports betting, even housing sports books at their stadiums. But still, getting the punishment here reduced is a positive for players.

The rest of the modifications are pretty straightforward. The punishment for wagering on a player’s own team’s games doubled, which should serve as a deterrent for players. There now also is no excuse for confusion because the NFL has laid this out clearly. — Jones


Why this is a positive step for NFL


This is long overdue. NFL agents had been grumbling since the spring about wanting the NFLPA to step in and do something about the punishment for players who were gambling on non-NFL sports, which many thought were too severe, especially for players who didn’t understand the rules. I spoke to several players this offseason who didn’t fully understand the details of the policy. When Howell was introduced as the NFLPA president at the end of June, I asked NFLPA president J.C. Tretter if he planned to take action with the NFL about the gambling policy, after an offseason that at that point, had seen nine players suspended for violating the policy. Tretter declined to answer the question in order to keep the focus on Howell. Another player was suspended for gambling the next month to make 10 players this offseason.


As Mike Jones pointed out, this isn’t collectively bargained with the NFL, but the fact that staff have a different policy than players proves that the union has had a voice in this conversation in the past, and the league has talked about including the NFLPA in the gambling policy discussions previously. It’s great that both sides went back to the drawing board on this, because the suspensions for things the players could do at home were becoming a major issue. — Kahler


What this means for Lions, Williams

This is obviously huge news for the Lions, who previously didn’t expect Williams back until Week 7 at the earliest. Per the previous policy, Williams was eligble to return to the team facility this past week, but was not allowed to play in games, practice or engage in much else other than team meetings. Now, he’ll be able to return to practice, which will be the first step as the coaching staff determines how ready he is. Williams was dealing with a hamstring injury prior to his suspension. Coach Dan Campbell told reporters this week that Williams’ hamstring is “good” but didn’t elaborate much. We’ll see how much time Williams ultimately needs, but whenever he’s able to return, his game-changing speed will be yet another tool for offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to use, as he orchestrates an offense ranked sixth in yards per game and eighth in scoring. – Pouncy


What they’re saying


“The NFL and NFL Players Association share a longstanding and unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the game,” the NFL and NFL Players Association said in a joint statement. “The NFL periodically reviews the gambling policy in consultation with the NFLPA and clubs to ensure it is responsive to changing circumstances and fully addresses this commitment.”


Backstory

The NFL suspended multiple players in April, including Williams and three other players from Detroit, for violating the league’s policy on sports betting.

Williams and receiver Stanley Berryhill (now a free agent) received six-game suspensions for betting on non-NFL games from an NFL facility. Detroit receiver Quintez Cephus and defensive back C.J. Moore, as well as Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney, were suspended indefinitely by the league for betting on NFL games. Cephus and Moore were released by the Lions shortly after the NFL’s announcement.

Those cases were the most high-profile instances of discipline for gambling violations in the league since Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games.

In June, the league suspended Petit-Frere for six games for violating the gambling policy. That month, the NFL also held a video conference to explain the dos and don’ts of its policies on sports betting amid an uptick in player violations.

The NFL is alerted whenever a player uses a mobile gambling app on his phone, and players are monitored 24/7 by the NFL’s internal resources and “third-party providers,” NFL vice president and chief compliance officer Sabrina Perel said in June. She added that the league is constantly adapting to keep up with the ever-growing and ever-changing world of sports betting.

[Cody_Russell]

That’s terrific news about Jameson Williams.

My guess is we’ll see Marvin Jones inactive on game day. Love what he brings when it comes to veteran leadership and that can still be the case. As did Michael Brockers last season.

Start Williams with 10 reps. Increase to 20 the next week. Etc. Keep building as he gains football experience with live reps.

[whatever_gong82]

What to expect from Jameson Williams as Lions WR returns from gambling suspension



By Colton Pouncy
7m ago


The Detroit Lions are fresh off a road win over the Green Bay Packers and in sole possession of first place in the NFC North. They’ve won six divisional games in a row and look like the team to beat. They’re 3-1 this year, winners of 11 of their last 14 overall.

The vibes were already strong in Detroit. Now, the team is set to welcome back wide receiver Jameson Williams.


The NFL is changing its gambling policy, league sources told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on Friday. As part of the revised policy, the NFL is reducing the penalty for prior violations from a six-game suspension to four games. Williams was suspended for six games by the league in April for placing a bet on a non-NFL game from an NFL facility. Per the previous policy, Williams was not eligible to return to practice or to play in games until the Lions’ Week 7 contest versus the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 22.


However, the NFL has decided to reinstate players who bet on non-NFL games and were suspended six games. Effective Monday, Williams will be free to practice, work out with the Lions and suit up to play as early as Week 5 versus the Carolina Panthers.

Here’s what it means for both the Lions and for Williams.


Williams’ status


The league’s previous policy on gambling suspensions allowed Williams to return to the team facility after three weeks. Though the Lions couldn’t communicate with him during those first three weeks, GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell discussed a plan for Williams to follow during the no-contact period, before the start of his suspension. Monday, Williams returned to the facility, but was still limited in what he could do with the Lions.


Here’s an excerpt from the league’s policy: “While suspended, players will continue to be prohibited from: attending or participating in group workouts; attending, observing, or participating in practices; attending home or away games; and attending club-sponsored community events, press conferences or other media appearances.”


Now, he’s free to participate in all football activities.

Of course, before his suspension began, Williams had been dealing with a hamstring injury that sidelined him after just one preseason game. The preseason was supposed to provide valuable time and reps for a young player who missed the entirety of his first NFL offseason while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college. The hamstring injury effectively ended his training camp on Aug. 11.


When asked about Williams’ hamstring earlier this week, Campbell simply said, “He’s good.”

Exactly how good will be the question moving forward. Monday, when he’s fully reinstated, the Lions will have to see where his body’s at and determine how much time he’ll need to ramp up and how soon they believe he can realistically return to action.



What Williams adds to Detroit’s offense


This is huge news for a Lions team that is, admittedly, in a good place without Williams. Detroit ranks sixth in total offense (386.3 yards per game) and eighth in scoring (26.5 points per game). But Williams’ speed adds a different element to the offense. His teammates have been eagerly awaiting his return to action.

The Lions have done well to create explosive plays in Williams’ absence. Per TruMedia, Detroit ranks fourth in the NFL in plays of 20 or more yards per game. But many of those plays have been schemed up by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, working to get the most out of a group that lacks clear game-changing speed in the receiver room.


Williams has that in abundance. It’s what made him a first-round prospect in the 2022 draft. The sheer threat of his speed should help draw attention away from others, which could unlock Detroit’s offense in ways we haven’t yet seen. When you start to think of the collection of offensive talent the Lions have — wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, a dependable offensive line and now Williams — you can start to dream of an offense that makes you pick your poison and is even more difficult to defend than it already is.

This group hasn’t yet played together. That could change soon.



What must Williams work on?


Of course, Williams is far from a finished product. He’s missed 15 of his first 21 NFL games due to injury or suspension. A year ago, he had one catch on nine targets, as the Lions eased him into action. And in training camp, Williams was inconsistent at best. There were far too many mental lapses leading to routine drops. It’s something Campbell even addressed as an area to improve.

But when Williams was fully engaged and competing in team scrimmage portions, you saw the ability to separate and stretch the field. There’s a reason the Lions traded up to select him at No. 12. He’s a perfect complement to St. Brown and has an elite skill set that few others in the NFL possess.


It’s just a matter of honing his craft and the Lions continuing to get Williams the reps he so desperately needs.

“Jamo” has been freed. It’s time to see what he makes of his opportunity.



Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions. He previously covered Michigan State football and basketball for the company, and covered sports for The Tennessean in Nashville prior to joining The Athletic. Follow Colton on Twitter @colton_pouncy

[ghandi]

The NFL owes Jameson 2 games pay then and an apology....They could have done this before the season even started.

[froot loops]

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that.

[-Deborah-]

The NFL is alerted whenever a player uses a mobile gambling app on his phone, and players are monitored 24/7 by the NFL’s internal resources and “third-party providers,” NFL vice president and chief compliance officer Sabrina Perel said in June. She added that the league is constantly adapting to keep up with the ever-growing and ever-changing world of sports betting.

Is this also the policy for the officiating crews? Shouldn't it be?

[whatever_gong82]

[El Axe]

Here is the PFF review of the game last night, but they go beyond and discuss why the Lions are so successful. It was a fun listen hearing a group that hasn't always been complimentary of the Lions be so positive:

[-Deborah-]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dklcr1aT1KY

Use the video button instead of the link button.

Love this!!

[whatever_gong82]

Use the video button instead of the link button.

Love this!!

Thanks, Deb.

Question: Could you edit my earlier Twitter link of Ms. Agar and her brother and make it a Twitter post?

Also, could you please give me a demonstration or link on how to do a proper Twitter/X post?

I've used the Twitter icon, but it doesn't seem to work for me.

Thank you.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions’ win over Packers shows again they know how to thrive and survive


By Colton Pouncy
Sep 29, 2023


GREEN BAY, Wis. — The last time the Detroit Lions were in this town, in this atmosphere, in this building, everything was different.

They were the plucky overachievers, looking to play spoiler. Locker-room cleanout day awaited them back in Detroit. There would be no playoffs for those Lions. As their postseason hopes diminished and reality set in, all that was left was a chance to challenge the perception of who they were back then.


That process began on a frigid evening in January. “Sunday Night Football.” Prime time. Nothing to play for on one side and everything to play for on the other. The Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, requesting PTO on Green Bay’s behalf. They effectively ended the Aaron Rodgers era. They told everyone who was listening that this was just the beginning — that anybody who thought differently didn’t know these Lions.

Then, on Thursday evening, they did it again.


“Send us anywhere,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said, matter of factly after the Lions (3-1) emerged with a 34-20 win over the Packers to stand alone atop the NFC North. “We’ll be ready. That’s the way we’re built.”

It feels like each week, that notion gets reinforced. It’s like the Lions have to rewire our collective brains, each time they take the field. Eventually, we just might have to take them for what they are.


But hey, it’s early, right? It’s understandable to want to see more. More importantly, it’s easy to fall back into bad habits. Just look at the way they started this game.


Lambeau was rocking at kickoff. The Packers had won the toss and deferred. Goff and the offense got the ball first. First play, no gain. Second play, loss of 2. Third play, interception — returned to the Detroit 16. Disastrous start. Over before it started.

And then what happened?


A defense that appears tired of being the brunt of the joke was stingy. Four plays, zero yards, ending with a field goal. The Packers took a 3-0 lead, but it felt like a win. It stopped the bleeding. It told the offense things were going to be OK. The Lions took a collective deep breath, regrouped and went back to work.

The result? Twenty-seven unanswered points. On the road. At Lambeau.


“Give Detroit a lot of credit,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “They came in and whupped us pretty good.”

The Lions thrive in these environments. They waited until Week 18 of the 2022 season for a prime-time game under the lights and used it to sound the alarms of their arrival. They showed it earlier this month in front of a national audience — one that was perhaps puzzled by the league’s decision to pit Detroit against the defending champs — promptly taking down Patrick Mahomes in his own building. And on this night, when a letdown would inevitably lead to questions as to how legit this team truly is, the Lions once again breathed life into the notion that they’re built for these environments.


“I just think it’s something that we talk about and prepare for,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We always try to emphasize that, man, you should really live in the moment. You should embrace it. You should enjoy it. It shouldn’t be a stressful situation. It should be one of those that — one day, you’re gonna look back and say, ‘Man, that was a special moment to be able to play under the lights with my teammates, with these guys, and get a big win and make some plays out there.’”

It’s these moments, and the ones that follow, that tell Campbell exactly how his team is wired. This group is hard to rattle, hard to keep down for too long. Opponents can strike first and the Lions will return to the field ready to hit back, the way they did in that first quarter. Football is a game of ebbs and flows, though, and these Lions know that. Teams can creep their way back in, as the Packers did in the second half by cutting the lead to 27-17, and the Lions will put together a 15-play, 75-yard drive that takes nearly eight minutes off the clock and effectively slams the door shut.


Hell, you can even pour beer on them and they’ll ask for another.

“I was a little tipsy as I came down,” Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said jokingly in the locker room, after getting a beer shower during a Lambeau Leap TD celebration. He said he didn’t even know a Packers fan poured beer on him until he saw the video after the game.


He was rather unfazed. Much like the team he plays for.


Players understand what these games can do to alter the way people view the Lions. Left tackle Taylor Decker, the longest-tenured player on the team, was at the forefront of the conversation in January, telling anyone and everyone that it’s time to look at them differently. He returned from a two-game absence, gutting through an ankle injury to help Detroit win, paving the way for 211 yards on the ground.

The same can be said of running back David Montgomery. A thigh bruise kept him out of last week’s game versus the Falcons. He hates missing time, hates the idea of letting anyone down — even though it’s his body ultimately deciding his status. Well, he suited up for this one. The Lions didn’t coddle him. They put the ball in his hands 32 times. He emerged with 121 rushing yards and three touchdowns — the most ever by a Lions running back at Lambeau.


Montgomery had never beaten the Packers before Thursday night, spending his first four years in Chicago with the Bears.

He signed with Detroit — yes, Detroit — for games like this.

“It just felt different, you know?” Montgomery said. “It just felt real different. … I can tell my son that I beat the Packers.”



He’s not alone, either. These Lions have won six divisional games in a row for the first time since 1995. Three of those wins have come against the Packers. The latest win wasn’t particularly close. The Lions controlled it from start to finish. Their offense totaled 34 points, 401 yards overall and 211 on the ground.

Their defense held Green Bay to 230 total yards and just 27 rushing yards. They recorded five sacks and forced two turnovers. Another day at the office for an ever-improving unit.


The Lions are in first place of an NFC North division looking weaker and weaker by the hour, playing a brand of football this city can be proud of. The 0-3 Carolina Panthers are up next. Then, a trip to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers. The Lions will likely be favorites in both of those games. If they keep this up, you might be able to count the games they aren’t favored in on one hand.

This is no longer a one-sided team. The Lions’ brand of football is sustainable. An offense that can put points on the board and finish when it needs to. A defense beginning to establish an identity. There’s a reason for fans to feel confident — not nervous — in crunch time. The Lions are hardly fazed by anything, and they get up for games like this in which they can prove exactly what they see behind closed doors.


That they’re ready.

“Eight months ago, we were here, so we know we’re capable of winning out here,” Campbell said. “A majority of the guys that were there are here. … I think we do enjoy it out here. It’s a pretty unique environment, and we’ve been fortunate to be able to go to Arrowhead and Lambeau. I just think they’re historic places, man. There is an aura about them, and I think our guys enjoy it. I know I enjoy it. It is pretty special.”


These Lions will tell you they’re not the 0-16 Lions of 2008. These Lions will tell you they’re not the Lions your father’s father is still scarred by. It’s a new group looking to carve its own path. They can do just that by stacking performances precisely like this.

They believe this is who they are. It’s what they’ve come to expect. And it just might be the new norm.



Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions. He previously covered Michigan State football and basketball for the company, and covered sports for The Tennessean in Nashville prior to joining The Athletic. Follow Colton on Twitter @colton_pouncy

[-Deborah-]

Thanks, Deb.

Question: Could you edit my earlier Twitter link of Ms. Agar and her brother and make it a Twitter post?

Also, could you please give me a demonstration or link on how to do a proper Twitter/X post?

I've used the Twitter icon, but it doesn't seem to work for me.

Thank you.

I posted that in the Admin thread for you a couple weeks ago.

whatever_gong82 - you asked for help embedding tweets. Here's an old video I had made showing the steps. You'll likely need to expand the video to see what's going on.

[whatever_gong82]

I posted that in the Admin thread for you a couple weeks ago.

I'm going to try it again the next time.

Thanks again, because I'm getting older and forgetful.

[-Deborah-]

Me too, no worries. Basically, get the link to the tweet then paste it between the tweet tags. The tweet button will help.

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions report card: High marks across the board after dismantling of Packers


Justin Rogers
The Detroit News


Green Bay, Wis. — Justin Rogers grades the Detroit Lions' performance in their 34-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Quarterbacks


For the third consecutive week, Jared Goff threw an interception. This one came early and it was ugly, giving the Packers field position inside the red zone. But just as he's done the other two times he's turned it over in 2023, the quarterback settled down and responded with an immediate touchdown drive. In fact, he was solid the rest of the way, finished 19-for-28 with a touchdown to go along with the pick.

Goff showed some quality mobility along the way too, with an 11-yard scramble that set up a touchdown and impressive spin move to evade a sack before hitting tight end Sam LaPorta downfield for a first down. Grade: B+


Running backs

David Montgomery returned from a one-game absence and put the offense on his back for stretches, finishing with a staggering 32 carries that netted 121 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs took a backset to that bell-cow performance, but still managed to gain 40 yards on eight carries. He was less effective as a receiving option, catching four of five targets, but gaining just 11 yards on those extra touches. Grade: A


Wide receivers/tight ends

There wasn't a standout performance as Goff spread his 19 completions around, but the pass-catchers provided several explosive plays. Josh Reynolds had two gains longer than 20 yards, LaPorta had the longest grab of the day with a 35-yarder that converted a third down, and Amon-Ra St. Brown's double-move route completely fooled the corner, resulting in a 24-yard touchdown.

Kalif Raymond's contributions to the pass game were less noteworthy, but the speedy receiver delivered a 40-yard gain on a reverse in the first half. Grade: A-


Offensive line

Taylor Decker deserves a ton of credit for toughing this game out and stabilizing a banged-up unit. It wasn't necessarily a banner day for the blocking, but they got the job done, limiting a solid Packers defensive front to two sacks, while getting the necessary push for the ground game to churn out more than 200 yards. Most impressively, when the Packers were attempting to stage a second-half rally, the line fueled a 14-play, fourth-quarter touchdown drive that saw Montgomery and Gibbs run the ball 12 times before the veteran punched it across for the dagger. Grade: A-


Defensive line

The pass rush stayed hot, sacking quarterback Jordan Love five times, nearly double the times he was brought down behind the line the first three games combined. And once again, the pressure came from all across the front with five different players getting home.

The Lions also continued to be stout against the run, holding another opponent under 100 yards rushing. The Packers finished with a measly 27 yards on 12 carries, with the only notable damage being a formational lapse on a 9-yard touchdown scramble by Love. But defensive lineman John Cominsky immediately redeemed the unit by stopping Love just shy of the goal line on a 2-point conversion that would have cut the Packers deficit to a single score. Grade: A


Linebackers

It was a workmanlike effort in the second level with Detroit's linebackers contributing 14 tackles, but just one for a loss. The biggest play from the corps came in the first half, when Alex Anzalone leaped up to tip a Love pass that was intercepted by teammate Jerry Jacobs.

Additionally, on Cominsky's stuff of the 2-point conversion, the lineman credited rookie Jack Campbell for playing the option play well, funneling the QB into Cominsky's waiting arms. Grade: B+


Secondary

On the hot seat with Emmanuel Moseley's pending return, Jacobs delivered a memorable performance, picking off Love twice and breaking up two more passes. If the Lions have plans to move him to a reserve role, he's not going to make it easy.

Overall, there were some coverage lapses in the second half, none bigger than Will Harris getting burned for a 44-yard reception. And the Lions completely lost Christian Watson on his 1-yard touchdown grab two plays later. Still, the unit did its part in securing the victory, particularly its role in a dominant first half for the unit. Grade: B

Special teams

Kicker Riley Patterson remained perfect on the season and Detroit's coverage units were excellent, limiting the Packers' dynamic returners until Keisean Nixon got loose on a relatively meaningless punt late in the game. Detroit punter Jack Fox wasn't at his best, lacking his gold standard hang time and finishing with a 36.5-yard net, but it didn't hurt the Lions. Grade: B


Coaching

Both coordinators called a near-perfect first half that saw the Lions jumped out a commanding 24-point lead. With the defense, Aaron Glenn is settling into a groove marrying his rush and coverage, while keeping his run defense stout. And Ben Johnson has cultivated an offense that can be both speedy and explosive or ground-and-pound, depending on what the situation calls for at the time.

The Lions didn't face many difficult decisions with the clock or on fourth down, although Dan Campbell went for the jugular in the closing minutes, first on a fourth-and-goal call from the 1-yard line where Montgomery scored his third touchdown, followed by a fourth-and-3 with a little more than a minute remaining to allow the Lions to finish the game with a kneel down. Grade: A


jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter/X: @Justin_Rogers