Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers, former LSU teammates and current NFL rookies, have canceled their $10,000 wager on who would win Rookie of the Year after realizing it violated NFL gambling policies. The two players discussed the issue and decided to call off the bet to avoid potential trouble.
Former LSU teammates Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers, now with the Washington Commanders and New York Giants respectively, have called off their $10,000 bet on who would be crowned NFL Rookie of the Year. The wager was initially made in the wake of their podcast appearances, where they discussed their friendly rivalry and aspirations for the upcoming season.
However, the two players were unaware that their wager could potentially violate NFL gambling policies. Upon learning about the potential consequences, Daniels and Nabers mutually agreed to cancel the bet.
"We were uneducated on the gambling policy in the NFL," Daniels said after the first practice of the Commanders' rookie minicamp. "We learned about it last night. Me and him had a conversation, and we canceled the bet. Obviously, we don't want to get in trouble or anything."
Nabers echoed Daniels' sentiments, stating that they had no intention of breaking any rules.
"We're calling the bet off. There is no bet now," Nabers said after the Giants' rookie minicamp. "It was just another brother pushing another brother to try to get to success. That's all it was."
The NFL and other major professional sports leagues in the U.S. have strict policies against gambling to maintain integrity and prevent potential match-fixing. Violating these policies can result in disciplinary actions, including fines or suspensions.
It's possible that Daniels may have already lightened his wallet in a different way. The young quarterback reached an agreement with punter Tress Way, Washington's longest-tenured player, to wear the same No. 5 that he had at LSU and Arizona State. Daniels did not reveal the terms of the deal but expressed gratitude to Way for allowing him to wear the jersey.
"Obviously, it was very hard for him, sentimental value to him and me," Daniels said. "He's a legend here, so I'm very appreciative that he allowed me to wear his jersey."
Despite the canceled wager, Daniels and Nabers remain excited about their rookie seasons and are eager to prove themselves in the NFL. They were joined on the practice field by wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, a third-round draft pick and younger brother of San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey expressed excitement about the prospect of playing with Daniels.
"He's a stud," McCaffrey said. "He's one heck of a quarterback, and he's a lot of fun to play with from a personality standpoint, and so I've had a blast in just 24 hours being in D.C. with him."
Daniels, Nabers, McCaffrey, and the rest of the rookie class will now focus on preparing for the upcoming season, hoping to make a significant impact on their respective teams.
