The first rule for a professional sports athlete is to not bet on the games. Rule 21 can be found in every Big League locker room. Pete Rose paid it no mind as a player and manager, so his lifetime ban is the proper punishment. The rule is called the cardinal rule.
Rose said he never bet against the Reds. We know what's going on if Rose bet on the Reds for three days in a row. The same goes for Calvin. Everyone is too close to wondering if everything is on the level after he bet on his team's games. Listen to any caller on a sports talk station and ponder how many fans think everything is on the up and up.
Is it not that way anymore? Not exactly, and certainly not what we remember. A gambling site reported him to the NFL. It feels like that person's interest is being protected here. More than the NFL.
Why is Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross not under investigation, if the integrity of the games is the priority of the NFL? He has been accused by his own coach of instructing him to have his team take a dive for a better draft position. Should it matter if it was for a draft position or financial gain? Doug Pederson was accused of throwing his last game as Eagles coach for a better draft position.
The league has always been dependent on gambling. It has a policy about injuries related to gambling. The teams were fined for gaming the injury list. Who was that for? Fantasy football players are trying to set their lineups.
This feels like DraftKings and PointsBet asking the NFL to make sure their interests are protected. It isn't that the NFL doesn't fear games being tarnished as much as what each team is really after. The gaming outlets are worried about people being hesitant to gamble on games they aren't sure are everything they are supposed to be. That is the reason justice/punishment came so quickly. They are bedfellows now. It makes sense that they were looking for a player who was prepared to report it to the league. Beer companies buy a lot of advertisements and sponsorships, but they don't call the league offices when a player is shitfaced.
Especially with the expansion of gambling. You can go as far as you want. You can bet on individual plays, quarters, halves, and any other combinations. You could argue that the smaller scale is easier to manipulate. Players aren't likely to throw games like we used to. If MLB owners get their way, the money they make is too great. One play here or there to get a certain result. Makes you wonder.
If you're wondering why Ben Roethlisberger got a sendoff from networks and fans akin to a head of state, know that it wasn't the NFL administering the suspension. The NFL's new overlords.
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