Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike is eligible to apply for reinstatement from his indefinite gambling suspension on July 24. But hold on to your betting slips, folks—there’s a twist in this saga.
According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the Colorado Department of Revenue is sniffing around to see if Uwazurike might have broken some state gambling laws. No charges yet, but the state, along with Arapahoe County, has launched a criminal investigation against him. For those keeping score at home, the Story County (Iowa) Attorney’s Office had already slapped him with a criminal complaint last year.
Apparently, the Iowa State product went all-in on around 801 wagers before his suspension, including some cheeky bets on the Cyclones and the Broncos. While the initial Iowa gambling allegations were “suppressed and dismissed” because the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s use of geolocation software was deemed a no-go, Uwazurike’s Colorado outlook is…complicated.
Attorney Harvey Steinberg is confidently throwing shade at Colorado’s chances of nailing Uwazurike. “Iowa court suppressed all evidence seized, finding it was taken illegally,’’ Steinberg pointed out. “That ruling is binding on the Colorado courts and the Colorado prosecutors. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to attempt to prosecute a case here when all the charges were dismissed in Iowa as result of that ruling.”
So, while Uwazurike might dodge legal bullets, don’t expect him back on the NFL turf just yet. The league is waiting for state and local authorities to wrap up their review before thinking about reinstatement. Sure, he can apply on July 24, but it’s no slam dunk. The Broncos’ training camp kicks off on July 23, just a day before Uwazurike’s shot at reinstatement. Perfect timing, right?
In 2022, Uwazurike played the role of backup D-lineman in eight games, racking up a whopping 165 defensive snaps. Despite the modest stats, the Broncos (including coach Sean Payton, who hasn’t even had the pleasure of coaching him due to the 2023 suspension) are standing by their former fourth-round pick. A source told Klis that the 26-year-old “has shown contrition and a willingness to change” by attending therapy and Gambler’s Anonymous meetings. Denver seems willing to let him rehab his career, even if it means a stint on the practice squad.
Stay tuned for the next episode of “As the Gambling Wheel Turns.”
