The NFL is putting the integrity of its games before allowing a potential distraction take over the offseason as it denied Brendan Sorsby the opportunity to be selected through a supplemental draft.
The league sent Sorsby and its teams a letter on Tuesday explaining its decision.
This is the latest denial for Texas Tech’s transfer QB Sorsby, who entered a gambling treatment program after admitting to making thousands of bets, including 40 wagers on his own team while he was a reserve with Indiana.
The decision was likely not made by the league in a vacuum. The NFL is without an official sports betting partner since 2021 and is in negotiations with both DraftKings and FanDuel, according to Sports Business Journal.
NFL: Sorsby did not address issues
According to the letter, Sorsby’s petition of special eligibility only listed that he was declared ineligible by the NCAA and that he wanted to play in the NFL. That is not a “basis for the League” to change its plans of not holding a supplemental draft, the letter reads.
“The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented,” the letter continued.
Sorsby addressed none of his public issues in his petition and “did not demonstrate accountability for your conduct or indicate whether, or how, you would adhere to the League’s rules and policies governing the integrity of competition,” according to the letter.
Another lawsuit coming?
Sorsby initially sued the NCAA over his ineligibility and received a temporary injunction to play at Texas Tech this season. The school, however, told Sorsby he would not play this year regardless of the legal outcome. Sorsby dropped the lawsuit and set his eyes on the NFL.
Now, his lawyer said the NFL’s decision not to hold a supplemental draft is against both the league’s collective bargaining agreement and the law.
“We will pursue this immediately with the [NFL Player’s Association],” Jeffrey Kessler said according to ESPN. The union has not determined if there are legal grounds to act, a source told ESPN.
