Gambling In (And On) The NFL

The Shield, as the National Football League is sometimes referred to, made an example of Atlanta Falcons' wide receiver Calvin Ridley this week.

While on injured list and not with the team, Ridley played 10 or so bets on NFL games. He has been suspended infinitely by the NFL -- at least through the end of the 2022 season.

 Yes, players should not be gambling and it is spelled out quite plainly in the league rules. Same goes for all professional sports. How about baseball's lifetime ban of Pete Rose for betting on games while the manager of the Cincinnati Reds?

But isn't the NFL being a bit of a hypocrite on this, based on the advertising bed they are in with on-line gambling sites?

This brings to mind the 1963 season, when then-commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended All-Pros Paul Hornung  Alex Karras. Hornung was a standout halfback on the Green Bay Packers while Karras anchored Detroit Lions at defensive tackle. The two sat out the 1963 season for betting on NFL games and associating with "known hoodlums" (the NFL's quotes, not mine).

Losing Hornung probably cost the Packers another championship, which would have been a sixth in seven seasons.

Both players took their punishment and moved on to 1964, though Karras had a better sense of humor about it. At mid-field for a pre-game coin toss, the referee asked Karras to make the call. The future Hall of Famer, who went on to a very successful career in television and moves, replied "I'm sorry, sir, I'm not allowed to gamble..."