mjw

April 21st, 2023 at 11:49 AM ^

Apparently Williams was suspended for "mobile betting on non-NFL games done from a team facility."  Given the NFL's partnership with multiple gambling websites, this strikes me as hypocritical.  If he were gambling on league games then i can see it - but six games for non-NFL betting seems excessive.

Blinkin

April 21st, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^

I agree and I am no fan of sports gambling (I personally get too emotionally involved in games without money riding on the outcome).  I think "just don't do it" is advice the NFL and broadcasters should follow as well, and quit airing ENDLESS draftkings and fanduel commercials during sports broadcasts.

Blinkin

April 21st, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^

The NFL doesn't want the players getting their cut, is what it comes down to.  There is only so much ad/endorsement money in each company/industry budget each year.  If you let the players make endorsements, that's effectively diverting money away from the league.  

BroadneckBlue21

April 21st, 2023 at 11:00 PM ^

Yet, who clings more to their hypocritical leaders? Christians or NFL fans? At least the NFL has always been a corporate business, whereas the Church is supposed to be a place for worshipping God, not the commissioner-like role of the priest or pastor. 

But if one wants to worship football as a god in their lives, then they should do as the priest says, not as he does 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

All sins have consequences, and all of Man sins. The commish can still critique the sins of his parishioners because it’s part of his job to do so, even as he doesn’t follow the same rules. He answers to his boss, not his disciples.

In other words, these players broke a rule of their job. Moralizing the fairness doesn’t mean they didn’t break a rule. I find it problematic that the argument people here are making is that because a business has a “stupid, unfair” rule, that players shouldn’t be held to that rule. The NFL is bound by ethics grounded in capitalism, not morality; the Church’s ethics are bound by spirituality through morality.

A business decision is not a sin. 

The players have a CBA they negotiated with the league. If they don’t like the gambling rules, make it a negotiable sticking point in the next collective bargaining agreement. I imagine they have bigger issues that will matter more, though. 

Otherwise, players should follow the damndest of rules or live with the consequences of being caught rather than blaming the agreed-to rules for existing.

 

 

FauxMo

April 21st, 2023 at 11:49 AM ^

I f*&^%ing KNEW IT! I had just started to open my heart to believing in and even following the Lions closely at the end of last year. But deep inside, I knew that was a bad choice... 

Tunneler

April 21st, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^

Williams and Berryhill placed online wagers on non-NFL games or events while on official team grounds, which includes practice facilities, stadiums, team planes and team hotels while traveling. Wagering on other sports, or playing online casino games such as slots or blackjack, is otherwise permitted by the league.
 

Chalk one up for the Puritans. They are heavy favorites in today’s matchup.

Billy Ray Valentine

April 21st, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^

Off topic reply/rant/diatribe to follow. Sorry...sort of. 

I agree wholeheartedly with your post, Chuck, but I'll take it obnoxiously further. Ohio State departee Joe Burrow's success can be significantly attributed to his sage decision-making abilities. Plus, Ohio State's QBs consistently fail to meet their NFL-projections. Fact. 

Joe Burrow is the rare #1 QB pick that seems to be meeting, if not exceeding, expectations. I think the adversity he faced at Ohio State, his transfer decision, and his redemption story at LSU forged Joe Burrow into the leader he has become.

At this point, I have little sympathy for any top-rated high school QB with NFL aspirations that chooses to attend play at Ohio State. Yes, they will put up video game numbers, get Heisman mentions, and win 90% of their games. But their college experience will be mostly wasted years when it comes to NFL development.  

Ohio State's vast talent advantage over opponents wins them 80%+ of the games they play before the ball is even kicked off. The NFL is night-and-day different from a competitive perspective. The DBs are elite athletes. The defensive lineman are elite athletes. Defensive coaching is often creative and unpredictable. NFL QB decisions must be made in nanoseconds. Recognizing coverages and disguises must be done instinctually and without delay.

Ohio State QBs typically throw to wide open receivers, or, they throw contested balls to dominant athletes that are expected to win 50/50 balls. We joke about Ryan Day being born on third base, but in reality, most of the Ohio State program is born on third base. This is why I love Michigan's current culture. We know we can't out-talent Ohio State, but we can physically battle, never back down, and challenge them to blink first.     

Bill Brasky

April 21st, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^

Grrrrrrr. Like everyone else’s sentiment here, I just got fooled into caring a little, especially this off-season, but knowing I’m smarter than this and it would bite me in the ass. I would regret it. And of course, SOL!!!!!!!!!!