Running back Joseph Randle, who the Cowboys cut in November, bet on sporting events during the season, according to The Dallas Morning News. Randle was arrested Monday on an outstanding speeding charge, and in the wake of his fourth arrest in a year-and-a-half, the Morning News has an exhaustive report detailing Randle’s problems over that time. The biggest previously unreported story is about Randle’s gambling habits:
On Nov. 3, a combination of issues led the Cowboys to release Randle. In addition to showing signs of mental instability, he had been involved in placing wagers on sporting events during the 2015 season, sources said.
“All of that became apparent to us right during the season,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said last week from a Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Ala. “Not before the season. It became real acute, a combination of things. Some issues ... became more apparent.”
NFL rules prohibit league employees from gambling on professional, college, or Olympic sports, while betting on the NFL is obviously especially verboten. Jones told the Morning News that there was no evidence that Randle bet on the NFL, or that he threw any games. However, the Cowboys apparently did not inform the NFL of their discoveries, as a league spokesperson told the Morning News, “we have never had any information relayed to us alleging that Joseph Randle bet on sports.”
While Jerry Jones might believe that Randle never bet on or tried to influence an NFL game, the Morning News points to some strange goings on in his final game:
Randle’s last game with the Cowboys was on Oct. 25, a 27-20 loss to the Giants in New York. Randle started the game but pulled himself out in the first series after two carries for 24 yards. Randle, who had been bothered at times in training camp with a strained oblique, came to the sideline and used a stationary bike before having a brief conversation with coach Jason Garrett. Randle then used the stationary bike some more but never went back into the game.
Jones said he’s never suspected that Randle pulled himself out of the Giants game for any reason but the injury.
The Morning News wasn’t able to reach Randle to comment, but through a text message to Fort Worth Star-Telegram Cowboys reporter Drew Davison, Randle denied the allegations:
Photo via AP
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