NFL suspends Jets WRs coach Miles Austin for violating gambling policy

As the Jets’ passing game wades through rough waters, they will be without their wide receivers coach for a time. The NFL is suspending Miles Austin for violating its gambling policy, Adam Schefter and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweet.

Austin, who did not coach against the Jaguars last night, is not believed to have bet on NFL games. Instead, the former NFL wideout is believed to have bet on other sports, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes, adding that such action is an NFL personnel violation (Twitter link).

This suspension will be for at least a year, per Schefter and Cimini (on Twitter). The NFL has come down hard on gambling policy violators. Calvin Ridley is currently serving a year-long suspension for betting on NFL games. That came nearly three years after defensive back Josh Shaw was hit with a year-long suspension. It is not known how frequently Austin bet on other leagues’ games or how much he wagered, but the league — which has loosened its stance on gambling dollars in recent years — is again cracking down on this activity by its employees.

Austin’s attorney confirms gambling on non-NFL professional sports occurred, indicating (via KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, on Twitter) his client made bets legally from a mobile device.

Austin, 38, has been with the Jets for two seasons. Austin played 10 NFL seasons, eight of which with the Cowboys. He is now the subject of a Festivus-afternoon news dump. Austin is appealing the ban.