Details of Josh Shaw's Gambling Suspension Make NFL Look Way Too Harsh

Adam Schefter sent shockwaves throughout the NFL landscape on Friday evening when he broke the news that Arizona Cardinals defensive back Josh Shaw would be suspended through the 2020 campaign for betting on league games.

Luckily for Shaw, his violations were only restricted to betting on games that he wasn't involved in. Had he colluded with gambling sites in any form, his punishment would have been much more severe.

Well, new details provided by insider Ian Rapoport make it seem like the NFL's punishment was a bit draconian. Shaw has been away from his team on injured reserve and apparently made the wagers at a Las Vegas casino with a few friends from high school, unaware that he was violating league rules.

Based on that insight, it'll be hard to convince yourselves that Shaw had malicious intentions while making the bets.

What makes that notion all the more conceivable is the fact that the USC product immediately flew to New York to meet with the NFL once he became aware of the allegations against him.

Rapoport reports that Shaw is cooperating in full.

There will surely be more to come, but the early stages indicate that Shaw will appeal his suspension.

Given the professional manner in which he is handling the predicament thus far, it would be rather shocking if the league doesn't alleviate some of his season-long ban.