Former Colts CB speaks out about betting suspension, denies throwing games he placed wagers on

Former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers received a one-year suspension from the NFL in June for betting on his own team, including a $1,000 prop bet placed on a teammate. However, despite the amount risked or won being far less than his salary, there was speculation about whether he threw any of the games he bet on. 

Recently, he sat down with John Barr of ESPN to clear the air and, in a way, his name. In the interview, he rejected the idea of dogging it on purpose for his bets to hit, saying, "That's not even the kind of person I am." 

"I studied too hard and too long and worked too hard to even get to this position to go out there and say, 'I'm going to make this guy catch the ball and score a touchdown on me just for $25, $50 bets,'" Rodgers said. 

While Rodgers took responsibility for his actions, he denied placing the bets for himself. Instead, he says the wagers were made for "friends and family" in Florida, where online sports betting was still illegal. 

Even with an explanation, it's still hard to understand what Rodgers might have been thinking. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Massachusetts and played in 45 games, starting 10 for the Colts over three seasons. Nevertheless, rather than building off a nine-start season in 2022, he sabotaged himself, possibly costing him his job forever. 

The Colts cut Rodgers shortly after the NFL suspended him on June 29. While the Philadelphia Eagles claimed him, he's on the reserve/suspended list and still needs to apply for reinstatement. Furthermore, considering the league's stance and crackdown on gambling violators, a reinstatement isn't guaranteed.