Every year, the topic of prop bets comes back through Dove Valley. Broncos defensive tackle Eyioma Uwazurike was given a year-long suspension in 2023 by the NFL for betting on games, and the team holds presentations on gambling every season, head coach Sean Payton said Friday.
Betting education has now hit Denver again — along with 31 other NFL teams — in the wake of a massive federal indictment that’s caught up several former NBA players and coaches. Chief among them is Denver native and former Nuggets star Chauncey Billups, who has been accused of participating in a Mafia-backed poker game that scammed players out of millions.
Asked Friday if the Broncos had conversations around prop bets, Payton said widespread news of the FBI’s investigation “hits heavy.” Billups stopped by training camp in Denver and Payton called the Portland Trail Blazers head coach a “close friend.”
“You hate it,” Payton said. “So, obviously – none of itap worth it.
“And when you look at it, like, the money’s, so,” Payton continued, trailing off. “But thatap one of the challenges when you invite (gambling), when we made that flip. We gotta be pretty diligent on that.”
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Friday that the NFL Players’ Association also sent out its own notice on gambling to players across the league, reminding players
Payton tight-lipped on fines: On Thursday, NFL executive president of football ops Troy Vincent in a slight kerfuffle with referee Brad Allen after Sunday’s game against New York. In a video capturing Dre Greenlaw’s chase of Allen that led to his one-game suspension, Strnad is also seen making apparent contact with Allen as a postgame celebration ensues.
Payton said he wouldn’t comment on the fine for Strnad and that he’d learned over the years that his opinion on such matters “doesn’t matter.” The Broncos head coach also said he was unaware of any NFL-imposed fines for him after he drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for running onto the field to contest a late pass-interference call in the fourth quarter.
“But thanks for bringing it to everyone’s attention,” Payton quipped at a reporter.
Children’s Hospital Colorado unveils new Payton-funded playground: Earlier in the week, the Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) .
Payton said he worked “heavily” with the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans — now known as the Manning Family Children’s — back in his time with the Saints, and he and Skylene had taken a tour of the CHC a year and a half ago.
“The outdoor playground was something that we thought would be fantastic,” Payton said Friday.
