NFL suspends four players for gambling
The NFL announced penalties Thursday for four players who had violated the league's gambling rules.
Isaiah Rodgers, a cornerback who started nine games last season, and Rashod Berry, a reserve tight end, of the Indianapolis Colts and free agent defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor, who played in one game last season for the Detroit Lions, were suspended for at least a year for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season.
Nicholas Petit-Frere, an offensive tackle with the Tennessee Titans, received a six-game suspension for betting on other sports while at the team's facility. He will be allowed to participate in training camp and preseason practices and games.
An NFL spokesperson declined to comment on specifics of the investigation and how the league had discovered the players' violations.
Shortly after the NFL announced the suspensions, the Colts released Rodgers and Berry.
The Titans said in a statement that the team was aware of Petit-Frere's suspension but announced no further discipline.
The penalties were the second wave of season-long suspensions handed down in a two-month span. Seven NFL players have received full-season suspensions in the past two years, a period in which pro football and other major sports have embraced legalized betting revenue.
In April, the NFL suspended receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore of the Lions and defensive end Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders indefinitely after a league investigation found that they had bet on football games during the 2022 season. As with the most recent suspensions, all are eligible to apply for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Two other Lions players, receivers Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams, were each docked six games for gambling violations, which the team said had included betting from an NFL facility on other sporting events.
League policies prohibit personnel from placing or facilitating bets on any NFL game, practice or other event, such as the draft. Players are allowed to bet on other sports but can't gamble in the workplace or while working. JAGS' ROBINSON SUSPENDED FOUR GAMES >> The NFL suspended Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson for the first four games of the regular season for violating league policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Robinson and the team had been awaiting his punishment for more than two months. Knowing it was coming, the Jaguars signed veteran and oft-injured backup Josh Wells to a oneyear deal in early April and then used their first-round draft pick on Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison. They hope those moves will help offset being without Robinson.
WATT TO BECOME CBS SPORTS STUDIO ANALYST >> J.J. Watt has signed a multi-year deal with CBS Sports to serve as a studio analyst, the network announced.
Watt's first appearance will be on “The NFL Today” during Week 1 on Sept. 9. He'll also be an analyst for NFL shows on CBS Sports Network and online.
Golf
PAMPLING LEADS U.S. SENIOR OPEN >> Retief Goosen got right to the point after the first round of the U.S. Senior Open at punishing SentryWorld.
“You got to hit the fairways, otherwise, you've got no shot,” the two-time U.S. Open champion said after a 1-under 70 that left him tied for second, two strokes behind Rod Pampling.
Defending champion Steve Stricker — from Madison, about 100 miles to the south of Stevens Point, Wis. — had two double bogeys in a 72 that ended his PGA Tour Champions record for consecutive rounds of par or better at 55.
Playing in the morning on the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course with deep, thick rough, Pampling had seven birdies, a double bogey and two bogeys in a 68.
Goosen, the 54-year-old South African who won the U.S. Open in 2001 and 2004, had five birdies and four bogeys in his afternoon round.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small matched Goosen at 70.
Bernhard Langer, the 65-year-old Champions career victory leader, was at 71 with Ernie Els and eight others.
MOORE, KUEST LEAD ROCKET MORTGAGE >> Taylor Moore and Monday qualifier Peter Kuest shot 8-under 64s to share the first-round lead in the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, with a slew of players chasing in what's expected to be a shootout.
Dylan Wu had the third albatross on the PGA Tour this season and shot 65, joining Sam Ryder, Aaron Rai, Ludvig Aberg, Sam Bennett, Justin Suh and Adam Schenk.
Collin Morikawa of Cal was among those two shots back while Rickie Fowler was three off the lead at Detroit Golf Club.
Cal's Max Homa, the only player in the field ranked in the top 10 in the world, shot a 3-under 69. Sungjae Im was one stroke better.
Defending champion Tony Finau, who won last year at 26 under, shot 72.
Major champions Hideki Matsuyama (75) and Justin Thomas (76) are in danger of missing the cut.
Swimming
DRESSEL MAKES 100 FLY FINAL AT NATIONALS >> Caeleb Dressel finished ninth in the preliminaries of the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. national championships, but he claimed a spot in the “A” final when Ryan Murphy scratched.
Dressel, who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, was attempting to qualify for the world championships after taking a long layoff.
He already missed out in the 100 freestyle and 50 fly.