Cardinals DB Josh Shaw Suspended Through 2020 Season for Betting on NFL Games
By Mark Powell
If most NFL fans hadn't heard of Josh Shaw before today, we couldn't have blamed them. Yet Shaw made a classic mistake we haven't seen for decades in most professional sports -- especially after the tragic error of Pete Rose's ways.
Shaw, currently a defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals, has been suspended through the entire 2020 season for allegedly gambling on NFL games.
Cardinals’ DB Josh Shaw suspended through the 2020 season for....betting on NFL games. pic.twitter.com/t1gawMI1LI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2019
The journeyman's ban could have been considerably worse had he colluded in any way with professional gamblers or gambling websites. Instead, the NFL only found evidence Shaw bet on games he was not involved in.
While still a severe violation of NFL rules, it could have been much, much worse for the former Southern Cal DB.
NFL announces Cardinals DB Josh Shaw will be suspended through the 2020 season for gambling on pro football. League says there's no evidence that he used any inside info or that any game was compromised.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 29, 2019
He's been on IR since the summer. He has 3 days to appeal.
The 27-year-old has been on injured reserve since this summer, meaning it would've been virtually impossible to impact any Cardinals game, even had he gambled for or against his own team this season.
Still, as gambling becomes legal nationwide and less of a social taboo across the country, the NFL must put their foot down and make an example of those who violate the rules. For Roger Goodell's sake, we hope they've accomplished that with Shaw's suspension.