Jets WRs coach Miles Austin suspended by NFL for gambling

Category: Sports

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. coach / koʊtʃ / (v.) – to tell or guide someone on how to do something, especially sports
    Example:

    My mother coached my younger brother on what to say in his play.


  2. wager / ˈweɪ dʒər / (v.) – to risk an amount of money by guessing the result of a game
    Example:

    My uncle wagers a lot of money when he plays poker.


  3. offensive / ˈɔ fɛn sɪv / (adj.) – referring to the way that players try to score in a game
    Example:

    The team’s top offensive player scored the highest in tonight’s game.


  4. scouting intern / ˈskaʊ tɪŋ ˈɪn tɜrn / (n.) – an assistant to someone who looks for new players for a team
    Example:

    As a scouting intern, you need to watch college football games to look for young talented players.


  5. free agent / fri ˈeɪ dʒənt / (n.) – a professional sports player who is free to play for any team
    Example:

    Russell Westbrook was a free agent before he joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022-2023 season.


Article

Read the text below.

New York Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin has been suspended by the NFL for a minimum of one year for violating the league’s gambling policy.


NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed the suspension, which Austin is appealing. McCarthy added the league would have no further comment until the appeal is resolved.


The former NFL wide receiver did not coach in the Jets’ 19-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.


Austin’s attorney and agent William P. Deni, Jr. said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that Austin did not gamble on football.


“The NFL suspended Miles Austin for wagering from a legal mobile account on table games and non-NFL professional sports,” Deni said. “Miles did not wager on any NFL game in violation of the gambling policy for NFL personnel. He has been fully cooperative with the NFL’s investigation. He is appealing his suspension.”


Per the NFL’s gambling policy for personnel, wagering on sports — even if not NFL games — is a violation.


NFL Network and ESPN first reported Austin’s suspension by the league.


Austin is in his second season coaching Robert Saleh’s staff with the Jets. The two were also on San Francisco’s staff together in 2019, when Saleh was the defensive coordinator and Austin an offensive quality control coach. The 38-year-old Austin also served as a pro and college scouting intern for Dallas during the 2017 and ‘18 seasons.


Austin caught 361 passes for 5,273 yards and 37 touchdowns during a 10-year NFL playing career. Signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Monmouth in 2006, Austin played his first eight seasons in Dallas and made the Pro Bowl in 2009 and 2010.


He finished his playing career with one-year stints in Cleveland (2014) and Philadelphia (2015) before retiring and pursuing coaching.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Per the NFL’s gambling policy for personnel, wagering on sports is a violation even if it’s unrelated to football. Why do you think they have a rule like this (ex. to prevent cheating)? Discuss.
  • Austin is appealing his suspension. If you had the power to decide, would you lift the suspension or not? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Austin has been suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s gambling policy. If you were to write a gambling law, what would you include (ex. prohibit online gambling, allow it in specific areas only)? Why? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how much gambling is okay (ex. sometimes, none at all)? Why? Discuss.