The Gambler Heads To The Draft

the NFL pulled the rug to gain attention and headlines as a way to hear fan opinion.

NIL money started July 1,2021 and it poured gasoline on the topic.

Only took 5 years, this topic isn't going away.

Mattyman wrote:

the NFL pulled the rug to gain attention and headlines as a way to hear fan opinion.
NIL money started July 1,2021 and it poured gasoline on the topic.
Only took 5 years, this topic isn't going away.

It is far from over with this topic. With gambling as easy as it is today, money in their pockets, this will always be an issue moving forward.

Savvy move by the league to jump at a chance to "drop the hammer" on a highish profile case like this, but NOT onto a high profile player. Not a current player at all, actually.

Take a stand and look tough without hurting your on-field product or suspending a star-- win/win.

So what happens now? He's not eligible for the NCAA and he's not eligible to join the NFL as a free agent. Does he then sit around for a year and enter the 2027 draft? And would that be the regular draft or another shot at the supplemental, which seems unlikely since the NFL already pulled that rug out from under him this year?

MaroonBells wrote:

So what happens now? He's not eligible for the NCAA and he's not eligible to join the NFL as a free agent. Does he then sit around for a year and enter the 2027 draft? And would that be the regular draft or another shot at the supplemental, which seems unlikely since the NFL already pulled that rug out from under him this year?

He will sue for eligibility to the NFL draft. He has an advantage and disadvantage that he is not part of the players union yet. Since he had applied in a timely manner and the NFL never requested additional information they really don't have a valid reason to not have the scheduled draft. I think he wins but then the implication is he will get 1 year ban. Even though they haven't punished any other player for gambling in college. The NFL's case isn't strong but if he does get drafted there is very little he can do in the courts at that point. The rules on the books say they can place discipline for actions done in college even if the precedent doesn't support it. They have stated they are going to sue so we will see. His draft stock is significantly lower in either case. Even if a draft occurs you could see him going undrafted whether collusion or otherwise.

pattersaur wrote:

Savvy move by the league to jump at a chance to "drop the hammer" on a highish profile case like this, but NOT onto a high profile player. Not a current player at all, actually.
Take a stand and look tough without hurting your on-field product or suspending a star-- win/win.

They missed the wrong player to do this on. Hunter Dekkers was the case to create precedent on.

MaroonBells wrote:

So what happens now? He's not eligible for the NCAA and he's not eligible to join the NFL as a free agent. Does he then sit around for a year and enter the 2027 draft? And would that be the regular draft or another shot at the supplemental, which seems unlikely since the NFL already pulled that rug out from under him this year?

UFL Houston Gamblers are an option. If not at QB then team mascot is definitely in play.

Kmerry82 wrote:

They missed the wrong player to do this on. Hunter Dekkers was the case to create precedent on.

So they can't do it now?

I had to google Hunter Dekkers... let me guess you are either an Iowa or Iowa State fan? This Sorsby case has been a lot more high profile and with how fast all of the NIL and gambling stuff is moving, it's going to be a bumpy ride while leagues determine how to penalize it.

pattersaur wrote:

So they can't do it now?
I had to google Hunter Dekkers... let me guess you are either an Iowa or Iowa State fan? This Sorsby case has been a lot more high profile and with how fast all of the NIL and gambling stuff is moving, it's going to be a bumpy ride while leagues determine how to penalize it.

I happen to be from Iowa. But if you don't understand precedent then all of this is going over your head. In August of 2023 the NFL stated that they could discipline players drafted or UDFA for issues in college.

1. Kayshon Boutte - drafted in the 6th round of the 2023 draft. Played the 2023 year. In January of 2024 it came out that he had made over 8400 bets in college. The NFL did zero discipline. He played in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The only quirk I see in this is that the rule was not adopted until after he was drafted. Even still he should have been case zero in my opinion. If not then it has to be the next case.

2. Hunter Dekkers - After a likely illegal fishing expedition of geo fencing - multiple players in Iowa and Iowa State were found to have gambled -although some of the claims were stupid. Noah Shannon lost a year of illegibility for a $10 bet on the Iowa womens national championship game. Most of these players did lose a year of eligibility. So possibly this would be the NFL's argument - they were punished they had to deal with the penalty.

Where this gets murky murky - is refusing to hold the draft. That is no where in their policies or procedures. It clearly states they need to meet a deadline. They can punish a player after they are selected in the NFL draft or as a UDFA. So fine say he can be drafted but will have to sit a year. That will hurt him more than letting him wait til next year. The NFL has to be consistent in its application it doesn't matter whether a case is more high profile - all it shows is the NFL is being selective in how it wants to apply rules.