Isaiah Rodgers Suspension: Colts Player Issued NFL Gambling Ban

Rodgers Suspended Indefinitely for Betting on NFL Games

June 30, 2023 108 2 minutes readNFL Picks & Parlays

Isaiah Rodgers Suspension: Colts Player Issued NFL Gambling Ban — Photo taken from sports.yahoo.com

The NFL continues to draw a hard line for in-house gambling. Look no further than Isaiah Rodgers’ suspension.

Indianapolis Colts players Rodgers and Rashod Berry and free agent Demetrius Taylor have been suspended through at least the 2023 season for betting on NFL games, it was announced Thursday. Titans offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere also received a six-game ban for betting on non-NFL games at team facilities.

In the wake of the announcement, the Colts waived both Rodgers and Berry. In a statement, general manager Chris Ballard acknowledged the importance of maintaining the “integrity of the league” when it comes to gambling. Ballard also said the organization will continue to educate players, coaches, and staff on the league’s policies and the “significant consequences that may occur with violations.”

While the NFL is unmistakably a big partner in the sports-betting industry, players are strictly prohibited from wagering on league games, including NFL point spreads. This comes on the heels of a crackdown in April, in which five players were suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy. Three of those players — Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, Lions defensive back C.J. Moore and Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney — were suspended indefinitely, with the opportunity to apply for reinstatement following the upcoming season. Two other Lions receivers, 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill, were hit with six-game suspensions.

Rodgers, a 2020 sixth-round pick who has spent his entire NFL career in Indianapolis, made roughly 100 bets, according to ESPN. Most of the wagers were reportedly between $25 and $50. However, Rodgers did place a $1,000 prop bet on an over/under rushing prop by a Colts running back, which reportedly won.

Earlier in June, Rodgers responded to news that he was under investigation by the NFL. On Twitter, he took “full responsibility” for his actions, acknowledging that he had “made mistakes.” He added: “The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organization, my coaches, and my teammates. I’ve let people down that I care about. I’ve made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process.”

To date, wide receiver Calvin Ridley is arguably the biggest name to receive a gambling-related suspension. Ridley, a Second-Team All-Pro with Atlanta in 2020, sat out the entire 2022 season after betting on NFL games. At the time, he was away from the team for mental-health reasons. Following the suspension, the Falcons dealt Ridley to the Jaguars, for whom he is expected to play in 2023. He is a +4000 pick for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Outlook

Isaiah Rodgers’ suspension shouldn’t have a large impact on Indianapolis moving forward. Last year,Rodgers started nine games for Indianapolis, per NFL stats 2022. He also saw time on special teams. His on-field impact paled in comparison to that of, say, Petit-Frere, who started 16 games as a rookie after being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Indianapolis is projected for 6.5 wins, matching Houston for the fewest in the AFC South. The Colts are a +550 pick to win the division following a 4-12-1 finish.

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