Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect.
The 32-year-old was part of last season’s treble-winning side after arriving at Celtic Park last summer from Chinese side Shanghai Port.
He won 57 caps for Australia and played all four games as they reached the last-16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing to eventual champions Argentina.
His single season at Celtic saw him score seven goals in 42 games in all competitions as the team retained the Scottish Premiership title and won both domestic cups.
He told the club’s website: “While it feels really sad to be leaving the game, I just feel the time is right for me. I have been so fortunate to enjoy such a great career across the last 15 years, creating some fantastic memories.
“I’m delighted to finish my career on such a high for Celtic and I would like to thank the fans for all the great support they gave me during the past year – I was delighted to be part of such a memorable season.
“I hope Celtic continue to dominate the game and I wish Brendan, the new manager great success with the great group of lads at the club.”
Mooy began his career at Bolton before being signed by St Mirren in 2010 where he played his first professional matches.
After returning to Australia for four seasons he was signed by Manchester City but did not play a first-team game for the club.
He was a part of the Huddersfield team that won promotion to the Premier League in 2017 and played 65 times during their two-year stay in the top flight.
Mooy spent two seasons at Brighton before moving to China in 2020.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said: “Clearly we are disappointed that Aaron will be retiring, however, it is something we absolutely respect.
“He has done so much in the game for a number of clubs and for his country and he deserves to make this decision on his own terms.
“I am delighted for Aaron that he has gone out on a real high after making such a telling contribution to Celtic last season and that, together with all his other achievements, should be a real source of pride to him.”
Everton risked the fury of their fans after appointing former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez as the replacement for Carlo Ancelotti on this day in 2021.
Benitez had enjoyed great success during a six-year spell at Anfield, including winning the Champions League in unforgettable circumstances in 2005 – as well as reaching the final two years later – and lifting the FA Cup in 2006.
His arrival at Goodison Park came following the departure of Ancelotti, who left four weeks earlier to return to Real Madrid.
The controversial appointment saw Benitez sign a three-year contract with the Toffees, making him only the second person to have managed both Liverpool and Everton after William Edward Barclay in the 1890s.
Benitez had antagonised Everton fans with a “small club” jibe after a 2007 Merseyside derby and although in subsequent years he had sought to clarify he was referring to them having the mentality of a small team in their approach to the game, it had not been forgiven or forgotten in some quarters.
After being unveiled by Everton, the Spaniard insisted he was only doing what he believed was right for his club at the time.
“I have been in Madrid, Naples, Valencia, Tenerife, Extremadura and Liverpool,” he told evertontv.
“Every single club I was there, I was fighting for them. If you analyse things in the context, what you are expecting from your manager is to fight for your club, and I will do that.
“I am here, I will fight for my club, I will try to win every single game, and it doesn’t matter who the opponents are, or the rivals. It is something you have to do, it is your nature, that you have to try to do your best.
“And why a lot of fans in a lot of these cities love me is because I was giving everything for them.
“If you analyse this in the context, then it is very clear I will do the same for Everton.”
He added of his new club: “I am delighted to be joining Everton.
“Throughout this process I have been greatly impressed by the ambition shown by the senior representatives at the club and their desire to bring success to this historic club.
“I believe this is a club that is going places. I’m determined to play a big part in helping this great club achieve its ambitions.”
Benitez’s tenure at Goodison was ultimately short-lived with the former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Newcastle boss sacked after less than seven months in charge.
His departure in January 2022 came with the Toffees sat six points above the relegation zone following a 2-1 loss to bottom club Norwich, Everton’s ninth defeat in 12 Premier League games.
The Texas Rangers will be well represented at next month’s All-Star Game in Seattle after they had a franchise-record four players elected to start.
The American League West leaders will have catcher Jonah Heim, third baseman Josh Jung, shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien as starters. Heim and Jung are first-time All-Stars, Seager will be making his fourth appearance and Semien is an All-Star for the second time.
The Rangers are 49-32 and in line for their first winning season since 2016 and will host next year’s All-Star Game.
Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout was selected for his 11th appearance and will be joined in the lineup by teammate Shohei Ohtani, who last week was chosen as the designated hitter as the league’s top-vote getter in the first round.
Also elected as first-time starters were Tampa Bay Rays teammates Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena, Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia and catcher Sean Murphy, Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez and Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Corbin Carroll.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have three players starting for the NL: first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Mookie Betts and DH J.D. Martinez.
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado was elected to his fifth start and eighth appearance.
Aaron Judge was voted to start for the fifth time, but the Yankees star hasn’t played since June 3 because of a torn ligament in his right big toe.
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. earned an outfield spot last week as the NL’s top vote-getter during the first round.
Red-hot Phillies win 9th straight on road
Kyle Schwarber homered on the game’s first pitch to back Taijuan Walker’s strong start and the surging Philadelphia Phillies finished a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 3-1 victory.
Bryce Harper knocked in two runs and Trea Turner added two hits and a run to help the Phillies win for the 18th time in 23 games. They have won nine straight road contests to match their best streak since May 1984.
Walker limited the Cubs to one run and six hits over six innings to win his fifth start in a row. He has a 0.84 in that span.
Ohtani hits 14th June home run in Angels’ loss
Shohei Ohtani extended his major league lead with his 29th home run but the Los Angeles Angels fell to the Chicago White Sox, 9-7.
Ohtani’s two-run shot in the ninth inning off Kendall Graveman was his 14th home run in June, breaking the Angels’ record. He is 14 for 30 with five home runs and eight RBIs in his last seven games.
Eloy Jimenez and Zach Remillard each had two-run singles in Chicago’s six-run third inning, and the White Sox won their second straight despite giving up four home runs.
Ben Stokes and Harry Brook will aim to help England into a first-innings lead on the third morning of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
England punched back on an absorbing day two, with Australia losing their last seven wickets for 100 runs as they collapsed from 339 for five overnight to 416 all out.
Steve Smith still brought up his 12th Ashes century, but the hosts quickly set about eating into the deficit and Ben Duckett led the charge with a fine 98.
Australia’s tactic of bowling short produced a gripping final session and accounted for Duckett, Ollie Pope and Joe Root.
But Stokes calmed the storm with a mature unbeaten 17 from 57 balls and will hope to push England on from 278 for four alongside Brook (45no).
View from the dressing roomComparisons to 2005 you say?
Nathan Lyon’s calf injury may not just be match-defining, but could have a significant say on who wins the series.
In his 100th consecutive Test, Lyon raced in from the boundary rope to try and catch Duckett’s lofted pull shot in the 37th over of England’s innings, but halted his stride. He immediately felt the back of his right calf and had to be helped off by a member of Australia’s medical team.
Lyon limped back to the pavilion and there are fears about his future involvement in the rest of the Ashes.
It brought back memories of Glenn McGrath’s busted ankle on the eve of the second Test in the 2005 series.
Harry hanging high
Brook was one of several England batters to walk into the face of a barrage of short-pitch bowling during an entertaining evening session on day two.
Runs followed, but so did wickets with Duckett, Pope and Root all picking out fielders on the boundary rope.
It sparked debate over whether a more conservative approach should be taken, especially given the extra load now expected of the Aussie seamers in Lyon’s anticipated absence.
Brook kept up the aggressive ‘Bazball’ mantra and enjoyed one life when Marnus Labuschagne put down a sharp chance, but Stokes was surprisingly more measured.
It was the type of captain’s knock England needed to ensure they did not lose their momentum.
Smith loves Lord’s and England!
Smith produced another superb Ashes innings of 110 and reached three figures with a gorgeous cover drive. Records tumble when the idiosyncrasies of the Test great are on display at the crease.
This effort was not only his second century at Lord’s, after hitting 215 in the 2015 series, but also the eighth time he has scored a Test hundred in England. His tally of 12 in Ashes Tests has moved him up to joint-third on the list of most centuries against one team.
But Don Bradman’s mark of 19 hundreds against England remains a little out of reach though.
Creepy crunches another
Smith had a couple of contenders for shot of the day but Zak ‘Creepy’ Crawley deserves the honour for his sumptuous drive straight after lunch.
It was not punched away like his first ball at Edgbaston, but was played with the pleasing sight of a straight bat and helped the Kent batter make 48.
However, fellow opener Duckett stole the show with arguably his best Test innings for England.
There would be no crowning century, after he pulled Josh Hazlewood to David Warner at fine leg on 98, but his array of square drives and cuts backed up his desire to continuously get bat on ball.
Home of cricket turns red for Ruth
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It was another hugely successful ‘Red for Ruth’ Day with more than £400,000 raised for the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Ex-England opener Strauss set up the charity in memory of his wife Ruth, who died in 2018 from a non-smoking lung cancer.
The foundation supports thousands of families that deal with the impact of a terminal cancer diagnosis. More funds will be raised with items to be donated, including the match-worn clothes of both England and Australia.
Strauss and his sons Sam and Luca rang the bell before day two and witnessed a Lord’s covered in red.
“A tough day, an emotional day and a beautiful day,” Strauss reflected. “It is great to have my boys with me to see everything Ruth stood for. It helps to know we are helping so many families.”
American duo Peter Kuest and Taylor Moore are in pole position on the first day of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, with Englishman Aaron Rai tied in second place.
It was a strong day all around for the players at the top of the pile, with the two Americans hitting eight under par while seven are tied in second place, just one stroke behind the lead at the Detroit Country Club.
The hole of the day came from American Dylan Wu who landed an albatross on the 14th hole, needing just two strokes on a par five.
Wu finished the day one stroke behind the leaders.
Aaron Rai had an impressive day out with six birdies and an eagle.
Earlier, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg produced a near-perfect audition in front of Europe captain Luke Donald to boost his chances of making a remarkable Ryder Cup debut in Rome.
Aberg only joined the paid ranks earlier this month but was already on Donald’s radar after a stellar amateur career and appearances in professional events which have seen him ranked the 11th-best available European player, according to analytics site DataGolf.
And the 23-year-old made the most of playing alongside Donald, carding an opening 65 containing an eagle and seven birdies and marred only by bogeys on the last two holes.
“It stings a little bit to finish the way I did,” said Aberg, who is eligible for the Ryder Cup as an affiliate member of the DP World Tour.
“I think right now it’s a little bit disappointing, but when I get some perspective on it I think I’ll be pretty OK with that round.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play a few of these events before so I’ve been exposed to this a little bit, but I think just going back-to-back weeks is a little bit different from what I’ve done before. It’s just going to take a little time.”
Six players will qualify automatically for the European team to face the United States at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club from September 29 to October 1, with Donald having six wild cards at his disposal.
James Harden will exercise his $35.6 player option for next season in order to facilitate a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, multiple outlets reported Thursday.
The Athletic named the Los Angeles Clippers as a team likely to pursue Harden, a 10-time All-Star and the 2017-18 NBA MVP who turns 34 in August but has remained among the NBA's premier playmakers. The New York Knicks are expected to have interest as well, according to ESPN.
Harden re-signed with the 76ers last summer on a two-year, $68.6 million contract that included the opt-out clause, taking less money in order to remain with one of the Eastern Conference's top contenders. Philadelphia finished third in the East with a 54-28 record, but was knocked out in the conference semifinals for a second straight year after losing to the rival Boston Celtics in seven games.
The 76ers fired head coach Doc Rivers following their playoff exit and replaced him with former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse.
Had he opted out for a second straight year, Harden would have been eligible to re-sign with the 76ers for as much as $210 million over four years.
Harden averaged 21 points and a league-leading 10.7 assists in 58 regular-season games in 2022-23, and his 38.5 per cent accuracy from 3-point range was the second highest in his 14-year career.
He struggled in the Boston series, however, averaging only 12.5 points on 21.8 per cent shooting in the 76ers' four losses. In the Game 7 defeat, Harden was held to nine points while finishing 3 of 11 from the field.
For his career, Harden has averaged 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, seven assists and 1.5 steals in exactly 1,000 regular-season games.
Should he be moved, Harden would be joining his fourth team in four seasons.
The future Hall of Famer requested a trade from the Houston Rockets prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season and was later dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in January 2021, forming a star-studded trio with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Brooklyn's "Big Three" was unable to achieve the franchise's championship dreams, however, and the group was broken up when Harden was sent to the 76ers in a blockbuster deal involving three-time All-Star Ben Simmons in February 2022.
Ben Duckett insisted England had no regrets about taking on Australia’s short-ball challenge at Lord’s, despite being dismissed by a bouncer just two runs short of a first Ashes century.
England vastly improved their position on day two of the second Test, taking the last five wickets for 77 to dismiss their rivals for 416, then responding with 278 for four.
That represented a sizeable swing in fortunes after a lethargic first-day performance, but it might have been even better. They had Australia boxed in at 188 for one, but saw Ollie Pope, Duckett and Joe Root all lose their wickets during a sustained barrage of bumpers.
A more cautious approach might have helped them negotiate a frenetic passage of play more safely, but would have been out of character for a team who have spent a year steering into risks and taking the aggressive approach.
Duckett is a true believer of the ‘Bazball’ philosophy and was at peace after being caught at fine-leg pulling Josh Hazlewood.
“It’s a shot I play and a shot I’ve scored plenty of runs with in my career. I would have been gutted with myself if I’d gone away from it, gone into my shell and gloved one behind,” he said.
“Ten metres either side and I’ve got a hundred. Falling so close to three figures here at Lord’s, I was obviously gutted for half-an-hour after, but I’m happy with how I played. I thought it was certainly my best innings in an England shirt.
“It’s the way we play our cricket. If they have plans like that and we go into our shell, it would be totally against what we do. We lost a couple of wickets but we’re in a good position.
“I was batting with Popey and Rooty but there was not a lot of chat, it was just ‘how do you want to go about this?’. That’s the kind of fun environment we are creating. If you want to back away and hit it over cover for six or do whatever you need to do, then just commit to it.
“Popey just said ‘I’m going get inside of it and smack it into the stands’. No-one in that dressing room will be disappointed with how Popey got out, everyone will just be a bit gutted it didn’t go for six.”
Earlier in the day Australia’s Steve Smith did manage to make it to a century, scoring 110 as he celebrated his 12th Ashes ton. Only the great Donald Bradman has more in the series, well clear on 19, and Smith had a different perspective on England’s approach.
He felt vindicated that Australia’s seamers kept creating openings at a time when they could easily have retreated into defence and credited Ben Stokes, the chief architect of England’s all-out aggression, for restoring an element of calm at the end.
“Lord’s has deep pockets, so if you are going to hit it for six you’re going to have to get a fair piece of it. The fielders are there if you don’t,” he said.
“We were setting fields and they were taking it on. England are playing this really aggressive brand and they didn’t look like they were holding back. That created opportunities for us.
“It was great that we managed to create so many chances on that kind of wicket. It was just Stokesy who changed it. He was only looking to get underneath it, or ride it out. The rest were trying to take it on and we probably didn’t feel as in the game against him as we did with the others.”
Birmingham have completed the permanent signing of Poland midfielder Krystian Bielik.
The 25-year-old previously enjoyed two loan spells with Blues but has now signed a three-year deal from Derby for an undisclosed fee.
Bielik told BluesTV: “I am honestly buzzing.
“We have been working with Birmingham for the last couple of weeks. We talked about this, we talked about the project and what we want to achieve.
“I fully believe in this, so that is why I am back. It has been a good last year for me personally and the club as well. We are going to push for more this season.”
Everton defender Seamus Coleman has signed a new one-year contract.
The right-back, whose current deal expired at the end of this month, has agreed to stay at Goodison Park for a 15th season after signing until 2024.
Coleman spent the end of last campaign in the treatment room, but will look to build on his 409 appearances for the Toffees.
The 34-year-old, who joined Everton in January 2009, needs to play three more times to become the club’s all-time record appearance holder in the Premier League.
He told the club’s official website: “Everyone knows how much Everton means to me which is why it is special to sign this new contract and continue to play for this great club.
“From the moment I joined more than 14 years ago, the support my family and I have had from our fans and everyone around the club has been amazing and I never take for granted just how fortunate I am to represent Everton. That has included the honour of wearing the captain’s armband in recent years.”
Boss Sean Dyche added: “We are all pleased Seamus has signed his new deal. I have hugely enjoyed working with him since becoming Everton manager.
“He is a top professional who helps to set high standards every day and makes it clear what it means to play for Everton Football Club.
“His quality and experience continue to be of great use and will do again once he’s back fit.”
Australia centurion Steve Smith admitted Nathan Lyon’s calf injury does not look good with the tourists’ braced to play the rest of the second Ashes Test without their frontline spinner.
Lyon injured his right calf while trying to make up ground to catch Ben Duckett’s lofted pull shot off Cameron Green in the 37th over of England’s innings.
The sight of Lyon holding the back of his calf and being forced to hobble off the pitch brought back memories of Glenn McGrath’s busted ankle on the eve of the second Ashes Test in the 2005 series.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson later confirmed Lyon was being assessed and while no scan has been booked, his chances of featuring in the rest of the Lord’s Test look over and his whole series could even be in doubt.
“Yeah, I haven’t been up in the sheds yet but obviously it didn’t look good,” Smith conceded.
“I mean it doesn’t look ideal for the rest of the game. I’m not sure how he actually is, but if he is no good, it is obviously a big loss for us.
“He is in his 100th consecutive Test match, which I know he was really looking forward to taking part in and having a role in.
“Fingers crossed he is okay but it didn’t look good obviously.
“It is not ideal, particularly your spin bowler. One player with one role. Batters, I suppose there are loads of us around so it is a bit different.
“Nathan, if he is no good, would be a huge loss. However, we have Todd Murphy waiting in the wings, who has been bowling beautifully in nets and bowled really well in India when he got his opportunity.
“I would be confident if he came in that he would do a terrific job for us but fingers crossed Nathan is alright.”
Smith, who struck 110 in Australia’s first innings total of 416, warmed up for this English summer with a three-match stint for Sussex, where he claimed two for 55 in his final appearance against Glamorgan.
But the part-time leg-spinner insisted: “I haven’t been working on my bowling at all.
“I bowled a few overs at the back end of one of the games – where pretty much the game was dead – just because everyone else was cooked.
“Hopefully I won’t have to bowl too much. I thought (Travis) Heady bowled all right, a bit different to Nathan, just skidding them more than Nathan does.
“Yeah, Heady is probably the one who is going to have to take a fair chunk of the spin overs and maybe myself and Marnus (Labuschagne) will chop in here and there.
“Yeah, not ideal when you lose your spinner on a surface that is not offering a great deal for the quick bowlers.”
England opener Ben Duckett sent his best wishes to Lyon but acknowledged the absence of Australia’s veteran spinner could be crucial in their efforts to level the series.
“It is a huge shame. I really hope it’s not too bad for him,” Duckett said.
“You never want to see anyone go down with an injury. He was going to play a massive part in that fourth innings because he is such a good bowler. If they go bumpers with all three bowlers, they’ll be pretty tired.”
Smith, who was 85 not out overnight, celebrated his 32nd Test hundred in the morning session.
A sumptuous cover drive for four earned Smith his 12th Ashes century, with eight of them occurring in England.
He added: “It is obviously a huge moment, I love playing here at Lords. I have spent a fair bit of time in the middle the last two times here and then this game as well.
“It is a nice place to play if you get in, you get good value for your shots and nice to get myself back up on the honours board again.”
Novak Djokovic was victorious back on British grass as he defeated Frances Tiafoe at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at Hurlingham.
The 36-year-old will bid to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles over the next fortnight, and he looked fully at ease in a light-hearted clash at the exhibition event.
As he has routinely done in recent years, Djokovic did not enter an official warm-up tournament, instead prioritising rest and recuperation after winning his 23rd grand slam title at the French Open.
The Serbian practised on Centre Court with Italian Jannik Sinner on Thursday afternoon before making the short trip across the river to Hurlingham, where he struck the ball crisply in a 6-3 3-6 (10/7) victory over Tiafoe.
“It’s always fun playing with Frances,” said Djokovic. “We get along really well. Obviously Wimbledon’s round the corner so we try to get some match play. It’s a beautiful club.”
Of his hit with Sinner, Djokovic added: “It was a little bit strange I must say that they’re allowing us to hit on Centre Court before the tournament starts. It was the first time last year.
“This year I had the privilege again, to go out on fresh grass, feel the court. It’s the best court in the world. Every year feels like the first time. It’s going to be another great year hopefully for all of us.”
Earlier in the afternoon, British number one Cameron Norrie claimed his second victory of the week at Hurlingham, defeating Serbia’s Laslo Djere 6-3 6-2.
Norrie, who was knocked out in the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club by Sebastian Korda last week, again wore strapping under his left knee.
He played down any injury concerns, though, saying: “I’m able to practise as usual. Having some bigger days earlier in the week and then to get these matches has been great. I’m doing everything that I can to manage it.
“I think the most important thing is just to go out there and just to put it aside. I’m going to have some discomfort at some points and that’s how it’s going to be.
“I felt really good today and I had a great performance. I’m exactly where I want to be. It’s good preparation having the matches at Queen’s and here. It’s my favourite time of year. I’m really enjoying my tennis and I’m hitting the ball I think as well as ever.”
Injured England captain Leah Williamson says she would give her other ACL for her team-mates to win the World Cup in her absence this summer.
The Lionesses travel to Australia and New Zealand next month aiming to build on their Euro 2022 success, but do so without Williamson after she suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament playing for Arsenal in April.
Williamson, who, in partnership with immersive football entertainment venue TOCA Social, is fronting the ‘Momentum’ campaign aimed at driving participation in the women’s game, is willing to go to extreme lengths to see Sarina Wiegman’s team claim glory Down Under.
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“I’d give my other ACL for England to win the World Cup,” she said. “That’s what I’ll believe in until it isn’t (possible).”
If the Lionesses can win the World Cup for the first time, they will build on the incredible legacy created by winning the European Championship last summer.
That victory on home soil has seen participation numbers of young girls playing the game rise, but there is still a way to go.
TOCA Social’s ‘Momentum’ campaign will see the venue – based at London’s O2 – allocate a set number of playing boxes for women to play as well as a dedicated ‘women’s hour’ in the hope of bringing a minimum of 50,000 women through the doors to participate in the game through both playing and watching football.
Williamson, 26, says she would have loved such access when she was growing up.
“If I’d have had something like this, it would have been better for me,” she added in her position as lead consultant for female participation at TOCA Social. “I didn’t want to go down to the park and get muddy if I was going to get muddy at the weekend, I just wasn’t that kid, I didn’t want to be out until all hours on the street.
“If I’d have had something like this, I’d have lapped it up.”
On the ‘women’s hour’ innovation, she said: “If I told my mates to come down they wouldn’t because they’d just get laughed at by men, or that’s what they would feel would happen.
“The conversations I have are more about the social perception of it rather than the actual access anymore. All the right things are in place, it’s that social conversation around the game and the normalisation.”
Williamson says that throughout the Lionesses’ journey over recent years, the number one priority has been to secure a legacy for the women’s game in this country.
She said: “Before every tournament you sit down as a team and you outline the goals and what you want to achieve. And different things have come up – be the number one team in the world, winning is obviously up there, but the thing that always comes up is to leave a legacy.
“We realised in the Euros we knew that the biggest impact we could have would be if we won, then it gets to us being in a position to win it and it was like, ‘What are we going to do now for the legacy?’ and that was more important to all of us.
“We’d opened all of these doors for young girls, they need to be able to walk through them and know that they can and those two things together are what we’ll look back on in 15 years’ time.
“I’ll remember those moments and remember the party we had after we won, but that is what will stick with me, that’s what we did and that’s what we left behind.”
The National Football League announced Thursday it has suspended three players for at least the 2023 season for violating the league's gambling policy, while another received a six-game suspension.
Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, and free agent defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor have been issued indefinite suspensions through the conclusion of the 2023 season at a minimum. Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere will be ineligible for the first six games of the upcoming campaign.
The Colts waived Rodgers and Berry shortly after the NFL's announcement. The two players, along with Taylor, were determined to have placed wagers on NFL games during the 2022 season.
"We have made the following roster moves as a consequence of the determination that these players violated the league's gambling policy," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement. "The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organisation we will continue to educate our players, coaches, and staff on the policies in place and the significant consequences that may occur with violations."
Petit-Frere, a 2022 third-round pick who started 16 games at right tackle for the Titans as a rookie, was found to have made bets on other sports at the team facility.
"We have been made aware of Nick's suspension by the league," the Titans said in a statement "We believe in Nick and know that he has deep respect for the integrity of the game and our organisation. We will continue to emphasise to our players the importance of understanding and adhering to league rules and policies."
Rodgers, a cornerback who made nine starts for the Colts last season, issued a statement on June 5 acknowledging his involvement after reports surfaced he was under investigation by the league.
"Addressing the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions," he said. "I know I have made mistakes and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation. The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organisation, my coaches, and my teammates. I've let people down that I care about.
"I made an error in judgement and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It's an honour to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this."
Rodgers was entering his fourth season with the Colts after being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. The 25-year-old appeared in 45 games with 10 starts and had three interceptions in 2021.
The NFL previously suspended five players in April, most notably Detroit Lions 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams, for gambling policy violations. Williams will miss the first six games of next season.
Additionally, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley sat out the entire 2022 season for wagering on NFL games while then a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Ridley, who recorded 90 catches, 1,374 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for the Falcons in 2020, was traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville in November and has since been reinstated by the league.
Justin Rose lived up to his billing as pre-tournament favourite by setting the pace on day one of the Betfred British Masters.
The world number 31, the top-ranked player in the field, carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey to record a seven-under-par 65 and enjoy a one-shot lead over former Ryder Cup team-mate Jamie Donaldson.
Donaldson, who secured the winning point at Gleneagles in 2014, birdied five of the last six holes in his 66, with Germany’s Yannik Paul, English amateur John Gough, James Morrison and Spain’s Sebastian Garcia all on four under.
“I felt very comfortable with my game from the first shot,” said Rose, who won the British Masters in 2002 and hosted the event in 2018.
“I hit a beautiful little wedge into the 10th hole, made a nice birdie there and I think that’s the cleanest round of golf I’ve played in a long, long time.
“I really drove the ball well, the irons were being struck pretty cleanly and I actually hadn’t made many putts through the front nine to be four under so it was great to manage to make a few coming in.
“It all amounted to a very good day’s work.”
Asked about being a short-priced favourite to win the £2.7million event, Rose added: “I haven’t really paid any attention to that, even though I played with the Betfred lads (in the pro-am) and they were telling me about the pricing of the field.
“It’s obviously somewhat of a compliment but it doesn’t mean anything, does it? You have to go and play well.
“Quality players, if they play well, they are going to be hard to beat, but the hard part is playing well. Obviously I’ve done the first step, got off to a good start, but got a long way to go this week.
“Coming off a missed cut at the US Open and a week off without too much practice, the beginning part of this week was important for me to get tuned back in to my feels and it’s nice to get off to a good, positive start.”
Donaldson was just one under par after 12 holes of his round before picking up shots on the 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th.
“Nothing was going in, it was all a bit slow at the start and suddenly it all kicked in on the back nine,” the 47-year-old Welshman said. “Five in six holes to finish, so yeah, fantastic.
“I was just trying to be patient. There were a lot of downwind holes towards the end there, so it made it easier to have birdie chances and hit a few good shots.”
The leading three players on Sunday evening, who are not already exempt, will earn a place in next month’s Open Championship and Donaldson added: “It’s a big goal.
“I’m down for the qualifier at West Lancs next week but it would be great to do it here and save having to play 36 holes in one day. There’s a long way to go but I do really want to be playing in the Open. Three more days and I need three more similar rounds.”
Paul currently holds an automatic qualifying place for the Ryder Cup and overcame a back injury which forced him out of last week’s BMW International on home soil to card an opening 68.
“Sometimes when the expectations aren’t as high, your acceptance if you hit bad shots is better,” said Paul, who won his maiden DP World Tour title in Mallorca last season.
“I’m obviously really pleased with my round. I flew here on Tuesday morning, thinking I’d have a 30 per cent chance that I could tee it up.
“My physio Rob is here this week and I also received some good treatment last week, but it took some time to get better.”
Defending champion Thorbjorn Olesen is five shots off the lead after an opening round of 70.
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