Betting, brutality bolster NFL

[clevfan]

Betting, brutality bolster NFL

By Joe Starkey
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Let's admit the obvious: Gambling and violence are big reasons -- maybe the biggest reasons -- why the NFL has become this country's most popular sport, one that rakes in more than $3.5 billion annually in television money.

Though it would never admit as much, the league must maintain an environment in which gambling can thrive and violence is glorified if it is to sustain its alpha-dog status.

To borrow a phrase from Bill Cowher, there's a fine line in this business. The NFL walks it daily on these two fronts -- sometimes deftly, sometimes sloppily, always in danger of stepping into a steaming pile of hypocrisy.

You don't think it's the casual fan who relies on the league's detailed weekly injury reports, do you? Bettors benefit from that information as much as anyone.

Bettors also need to believe that games are free from outside influence.

You saw the NFL's swift and dramatic reaction to the final play -- a meaningless play, really -- of the Steelers-Chargers game Sunday. Troy Polamalu's touchdown had no bearing on the outcome, but it had bettors and fantasy football players across the country pulling their hair out.

As Steelers linebacker Larry Foote said Tuesday, "Nobody in this locker room is talking about it, but I'm quite sure a whole lot of people throughout this country are talking about it."

One estimate, as reported Tuesday in The Trib, pegged the amount of money wagered on that game as $100 million, 66 percent of it on the Steelers to cover a 4- or 5-point spread. Officials erroneously took away the touchdown, resulting in an 11-10 final score.

Now, suddenly, the league is talking about revamping its play-review policy, to where officials will have more flexibility to ensure correct calls.

Polamalu was dumbfounded yesterday when told about the furor following his game-ending touchdown-that-wasn't.

"I didn't know about any of that," he said.

Informed that millions of dollars were lost, he said, "Well, people shouldn't gamble then."

The league-owned NFL Network reversed another Polamalu-related issue yesterday. It stemmed from a promotion for Thursday's Steelers-Bengals game.

Titled "Polamalu Island," the promo featured some of Polamalu's greatest hits. The voice-over went like this:

"There is a place where few can survive. It is the territory of one man who defends it with unyielding force. Trespass, and you'll be cast off of 'Polamalu Island.' "

Fairly tame stuff -- and it didn't mention anything about Polamalu labeling pro football a "pansy game" - but one of the featured hits was a collision Oct. 19 between Polamalu and Cincinnati's Cedric Benson. Polamalu's helmet flew off, and he sustained a concussion.

That is not the kind of clip a league supposedly bent on "player safety" and deeply concerned with the prevalence of concussions needs to be associated with.

Polamalu wanted no part of it when asked if he was disappointed the network would use such a play to promote a game.

"You're not going to get me caught up being billboard material anymore," he said, laughing. "This is a billboard conversation. I don't really want to walk that fine line."

To its credit, the NFL Network admitted an error in judgment when I asked about the hit.

"That play should not have been used in a commercial," said network spokesman Dan Masonson. "The editor didn't realize the play resulted in an injury. They're working to replace that clip right now. As soon as they can get it changed, they'll have a new spot out."

That solves one thorny issue. But when you're walking the line every day, another one could pop up any second.

In fact, you can bet on it.