Colts cornerback admits to violations of NFL's betting policy

Breaches of the NFL‘s gambling rules have become more prominent in recent months. The league in April suspended five players for circumventing the betting policy, including four members of the Detroit Lions, and it has opened an investigation into a previously-unidentified Indianapolis Colts player.

That player’s identity was revealed Monday night, after the Colts confirmed they were aware of the NFL’s probe.

Rodgers comes clean

Cornerback and kick returner Isaiah Rodgers, a three-year NFL veteran, addressed rumors linking him to the league’s betting inquiry on Monday night, indicating a willingness to cooperate fully with the investigation.

“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,” Rodgers wrote. “I made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process.”

Rodgers, a sixth round pick in the 2020 draft, ended his note by saying he is “very sorry for all of this.” He is alleged to have placed roughly 100 bets on a sportsbook account opened under an associate’s name — including some on Colts games.

What comes next?

The NFL has become increasingly strict about players placing bets in any capacity — including at NFL facilities. Two Lions players, Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams were found to have done this, and each player was handed a six-game suspension to be served during the forthcoming 2023 campaign.

Rodgers is in the final season of a four-year contract with Indianapolis and now appears in line for a lengthy suspension, pending the results of the league’s probe. He started nine games in 2022 and was a probable starter for the 2023 season.