Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon will not attend Big Ten media days next week because of his involvement in the NCAA investigation into sports gambling at the school.
Senior linebacker Jay Higgins will represent Iowa in Shannon’s place, alongside defensive back Cooper Dejean, tight end Luke Lachey and coach Kirk Ferentz. Shannon, a senior from Aurora, Illinois, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in each of the past two seasons.
Iowa announced in May that 26 athletes across five sports, including football, are suspected of wagering on sports, in violation of NCAA rules. The university said it became aware May 2 of “potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering that also suggested possible NCAA violations,” and received a list on May 4 of individuals allegedly involved in the activities.
The investigation launched by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Special Enforcement Operations Bureau, also included athletes from Iowa State.
“Being selected to represent the Iowa Hawkeye football team at Big Ten Media Day is a tremendous honor and privilege,” Shannon said in a statement. “I am grateful for the opportunity. However, given the circumstances I told Coach Ferentz it would be best for him to select another player. Since the NCAA review is not yet complete, I don’t feel it is right for me to represent the team.”
Ferentz in a statement praised Shannon for being willing to reveal why he isn’t attending media days and for suggesting a teammate takes his place, according to ESPN.
“Noah is a committed and dedicated teammate, and this is a fine example of him always wanting to put the team first,” Ferentz said.
In addition to Shannon in Iowa, two more players are suspended by the NFL, one for gambling related violations. On Monday, Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely, confirmed by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Free agent offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson was also suspended.
Uwazurike is suspended for at least one year for betting on NFL games in 2022. His indefinite suspension is not eligible for petition for reinstatement before July of 2024.
“We were informed by the NFL that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy,” the team said in a statement. “Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously. The Denver Broncos will continue to provide all members of our organization with the necessary education, resources and support to ensure compliance with the NFL’s Gambling Policy.”
Wilson is suspended for the first three games of the 2023 regular season. The reason for the suspension is not yet known. This is not Wilson’s first suspension in the league. While with the Tennessee Titans, he was suspended for violating club rules just one week after his NFL debut.
Bronco Coach Sean Payton insists that blame doesn’t stop with the rash of players banned in recent weeks for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. The league itself bears some responsibility, he said.
The league office is culpable for administering a policy that sees a rising raft of players caught in the same trap.
“When you have a bunch of players getting D’s, you have to start looking at the message,” Payton told USA Today during an exclusive interview as Broncos veterans reported to training camp. “And we’ve had a lot of D’s in our league this year with this policy.”
Uwazurike, 25, is the 10th NFL player suspended since April. Payton replied, “Shame on us. And we’re going to send them home for a year, where they can’t be around. The idea that you just go away, shame on us.”
Not taking the player out of the equation, Payton blamed the league for its handling of the policy message, one he called much too convoluted.
“It was awful,” Payton told USA Today.
He instructed Mark Thewes, the team’s vice president of football operations and compliance, to provide a streamlined version of the policy that he presented to the players and the team’s staff.
And what did Payton tell the players?
“You can’t bet on NFL football, ever, ever, ever,” he said. “I don’t give a (expletive) what it is. The other thing is, it’s the same as the gun policy. You can’t bet on nothing if you’re at your facility, your hotel, your airplane. So, wherever you can’t carry a gun, you can’t place a bet.”
It is striking, if not absurd, that Payton would feel the need to draw a parallel to the NFL’s gun policy.
“You can’t bring a gun to the parking lot…the team hotel…to training camp…to the stadium,” he added.
That the message has not been received and acted on by so many players means something is not getting across.
“If you want to know why everybody is getting busted? They are using this at the facility,” Payton told USA Today, grabbing his phone. “And this traces where you were at.
“It’s real simple for the players: You can’t bet on football. Period,” he repeated. “You can bet on the other sports, dogs, ponies, craps. You can do all that, but you can’t do it while you’re at the facility.”
And given the NFL’s 180 degree flip-flop from wanting no parts of sports betting to deals with teams reeks of hypocrisy.
“Part of that (support) is finding out, ‘Hey, what is the protocol? What is allowed?’ “ Payton said. “Do we want to see these guys return?”
“The question is, ‘What’s the intent of the punishment?’ I know what Roger’s intent was (for me). Do we want these young men to still have a chance to learn from their mistakes?”
Let’s hope so.
