Once again, the NFL has proven that if it weren’t for double-standards, they’d have no standards at all.
Several NFL players took part in an arm wrestling competition at a Las Vegas casino over the weekend. So, what’s the big deal? After all, the NFL will soon relocate an entire franchise to Las Vegas, a city known pretty much exclusively known for casinos and gambling. What’s the problem with a few guys arm wrestling at a casino?
Apparently, there’s a big problem with that. As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports, all of the players who participated at the event face fines by the NFL for violating the league’s prohibition against players taking part in events at casinos.
According to Pro Football Talk, “Steelers linebacker James Harrison, Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills, 49ers linebacker Navorro Bowman, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, Raiders punter Marquette King, Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards, Patriots safety Patrick Chung, and Cowboys receiver Lucky Whitehead took part in the event. Marshawn Lynch was also a participant and appears poised to join the Raiders for the 2017 season, but Rapoport reports that his current spot on the reserve/retired list will allow him to avoid a fine.”
First of all, there was a punter at an arm wrestling competition? Really?
Secondly, and far more importantly, the NFL really needs to figure out its mind-numbing, double-standard on casinos and gambling before the Raiders complete their move to Las Vegas.
The NFL’s policy seems to say that it’s fine for a player to gamble at a casino, and its fine for the league to base a team in a city universally known for gambling and casinos, but God help the player who takes part in a promotional event at a casino.
That needs some work.
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter: @themightygwinn
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