In recent months the National Football League has had a major issue with players gambling on mobile sports apps. It has affected multiple teams and some notable players throughout the league. Some of the major players who have seen their 2023 season reduced are Lions receiver Jameson Williams, Colts defensive back/return specialist Isaiah Rodgers, and Titans Offensive Tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. Williams and Petit-Frere are suspended for six games and Rodgers is suspended for the entire 2023 season. Rodgers was betting on NFL games while the other two were making bets on other sports while on team property.

            Many think the NFL has not been clear on the rules of when or how to use gambling apps, putting players in tough situations when it comes to gambling. Many also believe that the NFL promoting gambling for their fans has made the rules very iffy for players who see these gambling ads being run by the league they play for. This leads some to believe that the punishments handed out to the number of players suspended are unfair.

 Dave McGinnis (Titans Radio Network) & Jonathan Hutton (Outkick) at Kitchen Notes inside The Omni Nashville Hotel

"You don't know who has done what based on who is going to be turned in through these betting apps retroactively, they can stress the rules again all they want to. There suspending players before stressing the rules for a second or third time based on what had happened last fall or the past winter slash early spring,” said Johnathan Hutton in his interview on the Greg Pogue and John Burton Show.

            However, Hutton does agree that betting on NFL games does warrant a suspension. Most people have problems with the suspension of gambling on non-NFL events on team property like Titans Offensive Tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere did.

            This suspension also puts a wrench in the Titans offensive line which struggled last season. Petit-Frere is the team's starting right tackle a key part of that O-line. Now the Titans have to rework their line for the six games of the regular season, five of those games are against AFC teams which is critical for tiebreakers for a possible playoff berth. The Titans also need to stay healthy upfront with this suspension or they will be in serious trouble in the trenches. In those first six games, they have to face guys like Myles Garrett and Joey Bosa which does not bode well for a depleted offensive line. 

 

Alek Kisiel / WNSR Columnist 

@AlekKisiel on Twitter