Cardinals scout denies wrongdoing in NFL betting case, vows to appeal suspension

Days after the National Football League issued its first sports betting suspension in approximately three years, a high-ranking official from the Arizona Cardinals has denied any wrongdoing in the case.

Last Friday, the NFL announced the suspension of Ryan Gold for violating the league’s sports betting policy. During an extensive investigation, the NFL determined that Gold leaked material non-public information related to the Cardinals’ 2026 NFL Draft picks. Gold, the director of college scouting for the Cardinals, has been suspended indefinitely.

But on Sunday, Mike Caspino, an attorney for Gold, denied the allegations, calling them “blatantly false”. The NFL has not released the name of the individual who apparently received the draft intel from Gold. It is unclear if the individual or anyone associated with them placed wagers based on the confidential information provided by Gold.

“We have demanded an appeal, and we look forward to clearing his good name,” Caspino told ESPN.

More denials

Following the release of veteran quarterback Kyler Murray, the Cardinals retooled their offense in the Draft. Arizona selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick, then added a potential replacement for Murray in journeyman quarterback Carson Beck. The Cardinals also bolstered their offense with offensive lineman Chase Bisontis in the second round and wide receiver Reggie Virgil in the fifth.

Two days before the Draft, Love had odds of +225 at BetMGM to be selected with the third pick. Only Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey had lower odds. According to Caspino, his client had no knowledge on the exact picks the Cardinals would select. Only Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and General Manager Monti Ossenfort were aware of the picks ahead of time, Caspino said. Love attended FanaticsFest over the weekend, but was unavailable for comment.

As for the betting allegations, Caspino claimed that Gold’s wife made a series of $10 weekly parlays with a group of high school friends, but maintains that his client did not partake in the activities. Gold has yet to comment on the case. In a statement, the NFL wrote that the league’s gambling policy strictly prohibits all NFL personnel from providing third-parties nonpublic information related to gambling.

“Although there is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected, the league takes any violation of the Gambling Policy with the utmost seriousness,” the NFL wrote.

A potential coalition

The suspension of Gold comes on the heels of comments from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at last week’s NBA Summer League. During his annual press conference in Las Vegas, Silver noted that he would consider the formation of a coalition with other professional leagues to form best practises on sports integrity. Multiple defendants from several leagues are facing felony charges related to match fixing and prop manipulation. The NFL has not addressed a potential coalition.

The NFL handed down 10 gambling-related suspensions in 2023, including a one-year ban to former Indianapolis Colts defensive back Isaiah Rodgers. Rodgers admitted to placing numerous wagers from his locker, including a four-figure bet on a teammate’s “over.” It was later reported that the prop was on running back Jonathan Taylor’s rushing yards. Rodgers, who was reinstated after a year, now plays for the Minnesota Vikings. Players from the Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders were also suspended by the league.

While three leagues — the NHL, MLB and MLS — have commercial partnerships with prediction markets, the NFL and the NBA have yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission. Several participants in a US House Agriculture subcommittee hearing on prediction markets held on Tuesday referenced the recent sports betting scandals.

Gold, who is entering his 13^th season with the Cardinals, became the team’s head of college scouting in 2025. The Cardinals begin training camp on Wednesday.