JUNE 29: Colts defensive end Rashod Berry and free agent defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor are being hit with gambling bans as well. Berry and Taylor will be suspended for the entire 2023 season, joining Rodgers in that regard, the NFL announced Thursday (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). The league also finalized Rodgers’ long-rumored suspension; the fourth-year cornerback’s ban is indefinite but will cover all of the 2023 season.
Berry and Taylor bet on NFL games during the 2022 season, the league announced. Berry remains on the Colts’ 90-man roster; Indianapolis plucked him off Jacksonville’s practice squad in January. Berry, 26, did not play in a game last season. Taylor, 24, played in one Lions contest. Both players are former UDFAs. Taylor may well be the fifth Lion the league was investigating. The Lions waived Taylor on the same day they cut Berryhill last month. Rodgers and Berry must apply for reinstatement to return to action, Zak Keefer of The Athletic tweets.
These three join Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere in being part of the league’s latest gambling probe. Petit-Frere will serve a six-game suspension for betting on other sports from team grounds. Thursday’s penalties run the count to nine players suspended by the NFL in 2023 for violating the gambling policy. After Ridley and Shaw were the only players hit with gambling bans between the 1980s and 2022, this year has marked a watershed moment for the league on this front.
JUNE 28: The Isaiah Rodgers suspension will likely down this week, but the Colts cornerback is not the only player on track to be suspended. Other gambling-driven bans are expected to be assessed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Rodgers will be given a season-long suspension, per Schefter. The fourth-year Indianapolis defender is believed to have made bets on NFL games. A year-long ban would be consistent with those given to ex-Lions Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore and Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney earlier this year. That trio was found to have made bets on NFL games.
It is unknown who the other offenders are here, but a fifth Lions player was believed to be under investigation for gambling. The league already suspended Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams for six games. Since-cut Lions wideout Stanley Berryhill also received a six-game ban; both he and Williams bet on non-NFL games while on team grounds.
Since the initial batch of suspensions came out in April, teams have attempted to provide more thorough educational efforts regarding the NFL’s gambling policy. But after the league went decades without a known issue of player betting, 2023 has brought a number of headlines on this front. Rodgers stands to be the sixth player banned this year. Those punishments follow the ones given to Calvin Ridley (2022) and former defensive back Josh Shaw (2019) for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Since a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that opened the doors for sports betting outside of its traditional hubs (primarily Nevada), 33 states and Washington D.C. have opened legal betting markets. Once a beneath-the-surface topic in the NFL, wagering on games and players (via daily fantasy sites) is now regularly promoted. The NFL has partnered with three sportsbooks in recent years.
Rodgers, 25, was on track to remain a Colts starting cornerback. He started nine games last season. The former sixth-round pick had also served as Indianapolis’ primary kick returner, holding that job throughout his career. An indefinite suspension covering all of 2023 would require Rodgers to apply for reinstatement. Ridley successfully did so this year, but the former Falcons first-round pick carried considerable value based on his pre-suspension form. Such punishment may be costlier for Rodgers. This ban will result in the UMass alum not receiving his $2.7MM 2023 salary; that money will toll to 2024 and delay Rodgers’ free agency by a year. The latter aspect could be significant, as a productive season could have led to a nice payday next year.
The Colts did not become aware of the NFL’s Rodgers investigation until after the draft. The team traded Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys in March, leaving a gaping hole at outside corner. After also allowing part-time starter Brandon Facyson to rejoin the Raiders in free agency, the Colts used a second-round pick on Kansas State corner Julius Brents. Rodgers was still expected to be a key part of Gus Bradley‘s second Indianapolis defense, potentially as a starter alongside Brents and veteran slot Kenny Moore. As a result of the gambling development, Indy may be in the market for veteran help.
I totally understand the suspensions for the guys that bet on NFL games, but I don’t understand why betting on anything else is a problem. It very much seems like mixed messaging.
Maybe they think there could be collusion between other athletes? I’ll impact your game if you impact mine. It is easier to just ban it in general than have a scandal that would impact the bottom line
it’s mainly that they did it from their place of work
I they did it at home, it would be fine
Oh I see
I don’t think you have to be clairvoyant to see that this will be another can of worms Goodell will ultimately regret opening.
Theoretically, I agree. But if the rule is that you don’t call in bets while on team grounds, then making such wagers is so incredibly stupid, they should be suspended.
this isn’t Nam, there are rules
The Dude abides.
I guess I’m questioning why the rule is in existence. Full disclosure: I’m not a gambler. The NFL part I completely understand because they can directly impact games and wagers with their play. My question is though, by making the rule, isn’t the NFL kinda admitting these players have access to information other bettors don’t? I fully realize they probably do. It’s just weird to me to make rules against something you endorse as a league unless it impacts the integrity of your league.
because they don’t want to risk the implication of staff and other teammates , when a bone head does decide to bet on their own sport/team.
that’s the answer plain and simple mate
Please correct me if I am wrong but isn’t he the guy they said was suspected of betting on his own games? That’s not being mentioned now, guess they didn’t want him permanently banned from the NFL.
NFL to people – Bet on games
NFL to players – you’re not people
You can’t have it both ways.
Did you get mad when you heard that employees of the radio station aren’t eligible to win the promotional prizes, too?
That’s a false equivalency. Radio DJs promote the prizes and get paid for giving them away; NFL players have nothing to do with promoting sports betting and they are not lone individuals who are able to win/profit. Besides, I’m sure a radio DJ in Tulsa wouldn’t be barred from winning a prize from an Orlando station.
They still do those ‘give always’?
Quit listening to ‘radio’ years ago – too much jabbering and not enough music
Having NFL Players bet on games is like insider trading on Wall Street. Clearly you don’t know anything about sports wagering.
No I don’t except bets with friends – very occasional does $ change hands
Why have they been reposting the same article and calling it knew? This is older than 47 minutes. Even the comments are marked as older than the post time.
There has been updates to original post.
Let me explain: if they bet on games they played in they are bad boyz
This dumb every Sunday Goodell probably bets all day long
Someone needs to inform Goodell that the terrible officiating that exists on the field is a far greater threat to the “integrity of the league” than gambling.
Suspend Ekeler too.
link to youtube.com
Was a time that ‘betting’ and gambling’ was Mafia related territory.
nowadays it’s corporations and government and that’s how they validate the activity.
When you put your money on the table it’s no longer yours and the ‘house’ is the only winner.
My dad taught me that and therefore I never ‘bet’.
If your like most of us, you bet with something more valuable than money, many times without even realizing it. If your crossing the street your betting that drivers understand the rules of the road and won’t run a red light, killing you dead. If you board an airplane your betting that safety regulations have been followed and the maintenance staff have done a good job. If your seeing a medical practitioner your betting that you’ll get a correct diagnosis and that the medications prescribed won’t do more harm than good.
Don’t cross roads or fly in commercial aircraft anymore. I’m off grid – 3 miles from paved road, 13 miles from town and 1.3 miles from closest neighbor – no commercial power no commercial water no bs.
Satellite wifi internet with sporadic telephone….in my God I trust – no one else
If you’re that isolated, you must be curious as to why your father went to the trouble of warning you about the dangers of gambling. It doesn’t seem as if the opportunity to gamble was there even if you had a hankering.
Used to be urban and a people person – then people became to stupid to be around
Not necessarily. In sports betting you pick the team based on the lines. Casino games have pre-determined odds (that aren’t in your favor). Plus there are contests out their worth millions of dollars.
If you really want to hit a jackpot my advice would be to find yourself a good woman and stay married to her as long as you can.
After 3 good women I’ll keep my money and possessions thank you
Bottom line is this. It’s a rule for your place of employment, in this case one that pays a lot of money, so you follow the rules or you don’t work there. It doesn’t matter if you agree with it or not. Why is that so hard to do? Di none of these kids know what happened to Pete Rose? An NFL players career isn’t that long in general, gamble your career earnings away after if you want. And in the case of these guys, it’s not like they were stars. Save that money while you are making it because you may be working in insurance before too long regardless.
Isnt the Colts the team that accused New England and Tom Brady of cheating with the footballs?
Just curious there isnt a national emergency for this like deflate gate?
Is it bc nobody cares about the Colts?
No, it’s because one is about individual indiscretions, and the other is about cheating to win football games
I think if CF has patience he’ll eventually get to see this can of worms evolve into an emergency situation for Goodell. As far as deflating footballs or gambling is concerned, there isn’t a need to make a distinction since Goodell would view both as a threat to the “integrity of the game”.
Does goodell really understand the definition of ‘integrity’?