INDIANAPOLIS—The nfl suspended three players indefinitely on Thursday for violate the league’s betting policy and a fourth was sidelined for six games.
Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr., a projected starter for the Indianapolis Colts, and his new teammate Rashod Berry, a backup defensive end, received indefinite suspensions and were later waived by the team.
Rodgers, Berry and free agent Demetrius Taylor, who also received an indefinite suspension, cannot apply for reinstatement until after the 2023 season. Taylor bet on NFL games in 2022 and Rodgers faced the same accusation.
The Colts wasted no time deciding what to do.
“We have made the following roster moves as a result of a determination that these players violated league betting policy,” Indy general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement. “The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organization, we will continue to educate our players, coaches and staff on current policies and the significant consequences that can occur with violations.”
Tennessee Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere has been suspended for the first six games of the 2023 season for gambling on non-NFL sports at team facilities. He is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games.
Petit-Frere and Berry were college teammates at Ohio State.
“We believe in Nick and know that he has a deep respect for the integrity of the game and our organization,” the Titans said in a statement. “We will continue to emphasize to our players the importance of understanding and adhering to league rules and policies.”
NFL gaming policy prohibits players, coaches, and league and team officials from betting on NFL games, placing wagers at team facilities or team hotels, or having another person place a wager. by them, among other restrictions.
With many states specifically legalizing sports betting and gambling in general, leagues like the NFL are increasingly having to deal with gambling violations.
In April, the NFL suspended five playersfour of them with the Detroit Lions, for gambling violations.
The Lions released three players: receivers Quintez Cephus and Stanley Berryhill and safety CJ Moore. Cephus and Moore were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games, while Berryhill and wideout Jameson Williams each received six-game suspensions for betting on non-NFL games.
Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft, remains on Detroit’s roster.
Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney also received an indefinite suspension in April for betting on NFL games, and in 2022 the NFL gave then-Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley a one-season suspension for bet. He was reinstated in March and now plays for Jacksonville.
Losing Rodgers is a huge blow to a Colts secondary. already under reconstruction. The UMass fourth-year player was expected to add a veteran voice in a young position room.
Losing Petit-Frere for even six games hurts the Titans. He was the only starter to return from last year’s starting offensive line in the same position.
Petit-Frere issued a statement to ESPN that he shared on social media and apologized to the Titans and his family. He also made it clear that his bets did not involve the NFL and were legal under Tennessee law.
“It is only penalized because it occurred at Titans facilities…” Petit-Frere said in his statement. “I have always pushed myself at every stage of my life to follow the rules. Even after attending a league presentation, he was unaware of the details of how to place bets from a team’s facility.”
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Petit-Frere was Tennessee’s third-round pick last year out of Ohio State, beating out Dillon Radunz for the starting right tackle job. Petit-Frere started all 16 games as a rookie, helping block the second-best running back in the NFL in Derrick Henry.
New general manager Ran Carthon rebuilt the offensive line this offseason, signing Philadelphia’s Andre Dillard as the Titans’ new left tackle and the 49ers’ Daniel Brunskill at right guard. He selected Peter Skoronski with his first-round pick, and he’s likely to start at left guard.
Berry spent most of last season on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad after being signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie in the 2020 draft. Indy put Berry on its active roster on Jan. 4.
