Nashville, Tennessee — The NFL suspended three players indefinitely on Thursday for violating the league’s gambling policy and a fourth was ejected for six games.
Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts, as well as free agent Demetrius Taylor, received indefinite suspensions through at least this season for betting on NFL games in 2022. They will not be able to seek reinstatement until after the 2023 season ends.
Tennessee Titans right tackle Nicolas Petit-Frère was suspended for the first six games of the 2023 season for betting on non-NFL games at a team facility. He is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games.
“We trust Nick and know he has the deepest respect for the integrity of the game and our organization,” the Titans said in a statement. “We will continue to stress the importance of our players understanding and abiding by the league’s rules and policies.”
The NFL’s gambling policy prohibits players, coaches, and league and team officials from placing bets on NFL games, placing bets at team facilities or team hotels, or having anyone else place bets on their behalf, among other restrictions.
With many states legalizing sports books in particular and gambling in general, leagues like the NFL increasingly have to contend with gambling violations.
In April, the NFL suspended five players, four of whom were from the Detroit Lions, for gambling violations.
The Lions released three players – receivers Quintz Cephus and Stanley Berryhill, and safety CJ Moore. Cephus and Moore were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games, while Berryhill and receiver Jamison Williams 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 handed then-Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley a season-long suspension for betting. He was reinstated in March and now plays for Jacksonville.
Losing Rodgers is a major blow to the Colts’ secondary already under rebuilding. He was projected as a starter this season, his fourth in the NFL, and the former UMass star was expected to add a veteran voice to a young postseason room.
The Titans were hurt by the loss of Petit-Frère even in six games. He was the only starter from the previous year’s starting offensive line to return to the same position.
Petit-Frère released a statement to ESPN that he shared on social media and apologized to the Titans and his family. He also clarified that his betting does not involve the NFL and is legal under Tennessee law.
“This is only being cleared because it happened at a Titans facility…,” Petit-Frère said in the statement. “I have always tried to follow the rules at every stage of my life. Even after attending the league presentation, I was unaware of the nuances of betting from the team facility.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Petit-Frere was selected by Tennessee in the third round last year out of Ohio State, and he beat out Dillon Radunz for the starting job at right tackle. Petit-Frère started all 16 games as a rookie, helping to block Derrick Henry, the NFL’s second leading player.
New general manager Ryan Carthon rebuilt the offensive line this offseason, expected to sign Andre Dillard from Philadelphia as the Titans’ new left tackle and Daniel Brunskill from the 49ers as right guard. They drafted Peter Skoronski with a first-round selection, and he’s likely starting at left guard.
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