Recent Ohio State star announces stunningly tone-deaf career move
It's not often we get career news for NFL players in the middle of a season, especially not an announcement that reflects poorly on an athlete. Former Ohio State Buckeyes and current Tennessee Titans Nicholas Petit-Frere tackle threw caution to the wind after NFL Week 2, and we can't believe it. Petit-Frere, the starting right […]
It's not often we get career news for NFL players in the middle of a season, especially not an announcement that reflects poorly on an athlete. Former Ohio State Buckeyes and current Tennessee Titans Nicholas Petit-Frere tackle threw caution to the wind after NFL Week 2, and we can't believe it.
Petit-Frere, the starting right tackle for the Titans since entering the NFL in 2022, is now joining Matthew Berry's Fantasy Life team. He'll be a Fantasy Expert, contributing to a fantasy sports and gambling-based website.
The announcement seems odd or poorly timed, as we rarely see athletes partner with camera-facing companies during the season. It's not a big deal, though, if the player is a high performer, established, or has a clean background. But that's not the case with the former Buckeye.
Petit-Frere, who has allowed two sacks, one QB hit, eight hurries, and 11 pressures through two games, is not an established or quality player in Year 3. He's still inconsistent in the passing game, and PFF has never graded him higher than a 53 overall. He's very replaceable, so adding anything to his plate is a bad look.
But wait. There's more. In case you forgot why Petit-Frere missed time in 2023, it's because he was suspended for gambling on sports other than the NFL while on team property. He was originally handed a six-week suspension but returned two weeks early after new bylaws were established.
Later, the NFL reduced future suspensions for his digressions to a two-week ban, but he had already served his punishment. Still, Petit-Frere never really owned the mistake. He talked about being happy to be back, but was never willing to take the honus publicly.
"There’s nothing I have to say about it," he said, talking about the NFL cutting down the suspension punishment. "It’s cool they revoked some of the games for me. That’s where I’m at at the moment.
I just wanted to be back here with the boys. That was the main thing I missed the most was that I wasn’t here for me to be around the team, to be around the O-line. I’m just glad to be back and I’m happy about it."
He later required knee surgery that cost him the rest of the season, so he played in just three games. He won the starting job this season at right tackle but has been off to a poor start.
We'll see how his role with The Fantasy Life plays out, but this was a needless career move that likely gives fans more reason to be concerned about his performance and future.
