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June 29 (UPI) —The NFL announced on Thursday that it has suspended Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts, free agent Demetrius Taylor, and Nicholas Petit-Frere of the Tennessee Titans for violating its gambling policy.
Rodgers, Berry, and Taylor have been suspended for the entirety of the 2023-24 season due to their involvement in betting on NFL games during the 2022-23 campaign. They will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after the season.
Petit-Frere has received a six-game ban for betting on non-NFL sports at the team facility. The Titans offensive lineman is permitted to participate in off-season and preseason activities, including preseason games.
Less than an hour after the suspensions were announced, the Colts waived Rodgers and Berry.
“We have made the following roster moves as a consequence of the determination that these players violated the league’s gambling policy,” said Colts general manager Chris Ballard in a news release.
“The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organization, we will continue to educate our players, coaches, and staff on the policies in place and the significant consequences that may occur with violations.”
Rodgers admitted his mistake and apologized earlier this month after the NFL initiated an investigation into gambling allegations involving several players.
The 25-year-old cornerback was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Colts. In his three-year career, he has recorded 34 combined tackles, four fumble recoveries, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 15 games last season.
Berry, 26, has accumulated four combined tackles in eight appearances over his first two seasons with the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. He spent last season on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad and signed with the Colts in January.
Taylor, 24, appeared in one game last season for the Lions. Most of his time during the 2022-23 campaign was spent on the practice squad.
Petit-Frere, 23, started all 16 games last season for the Titans. He was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Petit-Frere also released a statement about the suspension, clarifying that the betting was unrelated to the NFL and “is only being sanctioned because it occurred at the Titans facility.”
“I want to apologize to my family, coaches, teammates, and the Titans fans,” said Petit-Frere. “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 of 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.”
In April, the NFL suspended five players for violations of its gambling policy, four of whom were from the Detroit Lions. Two of the Lions players were released shortly after the suspensions were announced.
The league has announced its plans to reinforce its gambling policy for the 2023 season, including mandatory education sessions and in-person visits. The league has also released a list of “key rules” for players.
As part of this initiative, rookies will be required to watch a training video for NFL compliance.
Some of the key rules that will be further enforced for players include: not betting on the NFL, refraining from gambling at team facilities, while traveling for road games, or staying at a team hotel, and not allowing someone else to place bets on their behalf.
Players are also prohibited from sharing “inside information,” entering a sportsbook during the NFL season, and participating in daily fantasy football.
The NFL training camp dates will commence on July 18, when rookies are expected to report to team facilities.
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