The National Football League (NFL) suspends four players for violating the league’s sports betting rules.
In a statement from the NFL, three players will be suspended for the entire 2023 season, while one player from the Tennessee Titans will be suspended for six games.
Reinforcing its gambling policy
The NFL gambling policy prohibits anyone in the NFL, including players, coaches and staff, from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility.
On Thursday, the NFL handed down the following suspensions:
- Isaiah Rodgers, Indianapolis Colts (All of 2023)
- Rashod Berry, Indianapolis Colts (All of 2023)
- Demetrius Taylor, Free Agent (All of 2023)
- Nicholas Petit-Frere, Tennessee Titans (Six games in 2023)
In a statement to ESPN senior insider Adam Schefter, Petit-Frere said the betting he engaged in was not on NFL games.
Petit-Frere, an offensive tackle for the Titans, said the betting he did was legal under Tennessee law, and he was only sanctioned because he placed bets at the Titans facility.
“I want to apologize to my family, coaches, teammates and the Titans fans. I have always strived in every stage of my life to follow the rules. I did not knowingly break the rules. Even after attending a league presentation, I was unaware about the specifics around placing bets from a team facility.
I will do everything in my power to help the team during training camp and will be prepared when I return to the roster during the season.”
Gambling suspensions are nothing new
According to ESPN, since 2018, 11 players, one assistant coach and an undisclosed number of league personnel have been suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Earlier this year, the NFL suspended four players from the Detroit Lions and one from the Washington Commanders for similar violations.
Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore, from the Lions, and Shaka Toney from the Commanders, were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games. Lions players Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended six games each for placing mobile bets at the team’s Allen Park facility.
Last year, then-Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season for betting on NFL games. Ridley, now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is eligible to return this season.
The NFL has said it will reinforce its gambling policy to all players. In addition, all rookies are required to attend mandatory education sessions regarding sports betting. The NFL will also send a group of league officials to make in-person visits to each team to emphasize and clarify what activities are prohibited.
