[Schefter] A handful of NFL players, including Colts’ cornerback and kick returner Isaiah Rodgers, are expected to receive season-long suspensions this week for allegedly gambling, sources tell ESPN.
I mean in a perfect world, sure. But add in any reality and of course they're going to bet on games they're a part of. It almost destroyed baseball (black socks), and severely hurt the reputation of baseball (Astros) and basketball (refs). I don't follow any of those sports really, but those are off the top of my head.
I really hate how over bearing all the sports betting has become in the NFL and other sports and can see how it could be confusing for players. But if the rumors of him betting on NFL games, including Colts games are true, that’s past the point of a stupid mistake. He could be lucky to get away with just a year suspension.
@bl4ckblooc@goldenjoe6 of course it's a problem if he's betting on Colts games, he's got inside knowledge on game plans. The NFL needs to be as transparent as they can be with their players about what can and cannot be bet on and where the bets can be placed and where they cannot be.
Players are apparently warned very frequently not to gamble, so of course they had notice. The NFL also has to know their constant gambling promos are going to affect people. I'm also willing to believe there are players who gamble using their friends/family as proxies.
Ultimately the NFL had a big hand in creating this problem, but the players (who are absolutely responsible) are the ones who bear the brunt of the blowback.
It's a really weird dynamic. The NFL's mentality is just do as I say, but not as I encourage 300 million people to do.
I know literally next to nothing about gambling, but it feels like it should have some of the NIL problems in College Football. It just strikes me as odd that if I were an NFL player, people could bet on me or my team's performance, and I get no licensing cut or anything. And, if I do it, for other teams or maybe even other sports, I get suspended from my job.
I get that the NFL is trying to avoid a Pete Rose situation, but by suspending players, moving a team to Vegas, and so many owners having large stakes in these gambling companies, it feels like they're trying to have their cake and eat it too.