Why were Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers punished? NFL rookies schooled over $10,000 violation
Quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Malik Nabers were a dynamic duo as teammates on the LSU Tigers. Both stars were terrific in their final season in college football.
Nabers earned a first-team All-American nod for racking up 1,569 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, while Daniels threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns, and won the Heisman award.
During an appearance on the Pivot Podcast, Nabers revealed that he and Daniels had a $10,000 bet on who'd win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. However, neither was aware their wager violated the league's gambling policy.
They quickly rescinded it but were still punished by the league for placing it. However, it wasn't particularly severe.
Their exceptional campaigns with LSU put them on the radar of almost every team with a top-10 pick in the 2024 draft.
The Washington Commanders took the quarterback with the second pick, while the New York Giants spent the sixth pick on the wide receiver. The duo went from teammates to playing for division rivals overnight.
What was Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers' punishment for their $10,000 bet?
The rookies weren't fined nor did they receive any suspension for their bet. According to the NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller, the duo was educated on why their ill-advised violated the league's gambling policy and were tasked to undergo training sessions to avoid similar mishaps in the future.
In a conference call with journalists about the NFL's gambling policy, Miller said,
"The league addressed the matter directly with the NFL Players Association, with the two teams, and the two players, to ensure that they understood the policy. They received multiple education training sessions since that time."
He added that the league was satisfied with the resolution, suggesting the matter is in the rearview mirror. Malik Nabers and Jayden Daniels were essentially handed a slap on the wrist for their $10,000 bet.
While they are in the clear for now, the NFL will keep a close eye on them to ensure they aren't indulging in illicit activities that violate the league's code of conduct.