NFL Suspend Three for the Season after Gambling Breaches
Three NFL players have been suspended for the entire 2023 season for violating the league’s gambling policy, while a fourth faces a shorter ban for a separate gambling breach.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, 25, and defensive end Rashod Berry, 26, together with free agent Demetrius Taylor, 23, have been sanctioned by the NFL for betting on games last season. Rodgers and Berry were then released by the Colts on Thursday, less than an hour after the league had announced the ban.
Colts’ Short of Cornerbacks, Titan’s Petit-Frere hit with 6 match ban
Rodgers’ suspension left the cornerback position at Indianapolis, where they already lacked depth, even more sparse. Kenny Moore II is now the only cornerback on the Colts’ roster who has started more than four games.
Taylor was released by the Detroit Lions May 9 after initially being picked up by the NFC North franchise as an undrafted free agent out of App State.
Meanwhile Tennessee Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, was given a six-game suspension for betting on other sports at the team facility. Petit-Frere will be allowed to take part in training and games with his club during the off-season and pre-season.
The NFL stated that Rodgers, Berry and Taylor, 23, “may petition for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 season”.
The Colts’ general manager, Chris Ballard, responded with a statement: “We have made the following roster moves as a consequence of the determination that these players violated the league’s gambling policy.
“The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organisation, we will continue to educate our players, coaches, and staff on the policies in place and the significant consequences that may occur with violations.”
In April, three players were banned for the 2023 season for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, while two were suspended for the first six regular season games.
Suspensions Follow Release of Key Rules
The announcement follows hot on the heels of the league’s release of six ‘key rules’ which NFL players must abide by regarding gambling.
The key rules are as follows:
1. Don’t bet on the NFL
2. Don’t gamble at your team facility, while traveling for a road game or staying at a team hotel
3. Don’t have someone bet for you
4. Don’t share team ‘inside information’
5. Don’t enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season
6. Don’t play daily fantasy football
One point which is confusing is why players are able to bet on other sports during their time away from the facility, as per the aforementioned conditions, and yet other league and team personnel – including staff and coaches – cannot.
Then, there is the issue wherein sports gambling is illegal in three states — Florida, Texas and California — which eight franchises reside; Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa Bay, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, along with LA’s Rams and Chargers.
The NFL has emphasised its commitment to educating players following recent violations:
NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller stated:
‘Sports gambling has a great deal more presence in people’s lives than it did just a few short years ago,’
‘Which means for us as [a] sports league — where integrity of the game is the highest single principle — that we have to be thoughtful and careful and scrutinize how we share information and educate people around the rules that govern it.’
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