Players should have a right to gamble on games.

Imagine if Aaron Rodgers could bet on his own team?  Imagine if he bets Brian Hoyer 100,000 $ before the game saying the Packers will win, and Hoyer says "you're on". 

Why would that be wrong?

If anything, it would motivate the players to play better, especially when everyone knows they have a wager on the game.


Furthermore, are not NFL players already gambling?  How many coaches got fired because they were winning too many games?  Thus, when those coaches get fired, they lose contract extensions, they lose money. 

By Gambling a set dollar amount per game, all they are really doing is making it more clear that they are all out there essentially "gambling".  Personally, I think this would do great to motivate players.

The last note is in regards to what if Aaron Rodgers bet on the Bears, would he have incentive to play poorly?  YES, but at least the world would know that he is rooting against his own team, and thus, the fans and the teams can decide if they want a QB who bets against his own team.  I personally would not, I would want that guy who always bets on his team because he loves his team and believes in them that much.  There is nothing wrong with having a biased to play better because you have money riding on yourself.



Thoughts appreciated.

"There is nothing wrong with having a biased to play better because you have money riding on yourself".

Wrong.  They would be tempted to over-use certain players and destroy their season because of one game.  Was Pete Rose right to bet on his own team?  You think he was tempted to burn his closer for three late innings to win just one game?

stupidest post ever on covers.com along with the imbeciles still trying to promote donald trump on us when they know its already over for him.

TheGoldenGoose:  As an owner, would I have the right of giving my players "Win Bonuses", meaning, every game they win, they get an additional cash bonus as an incentive to win games.

Your argument sounds good, but aren't players already doing that trying to get contract extensions, or to make it to the NFL?

Think about College Football Players getting paid zero dollars, but there are millions of dollars being wagered on these guys per every game.  What is wrong with giving some of these guys a chance to make money on themselves in College given the chance of pro is so limited?

The Laws that must be followed are you can't bet against yourself or your team.  You can only use bets as a way to motivate yourself or your team to play their best, which is already encouraged by the league.  And yes, if they want to bet lines, they can, but to make it known.  So if USC is trying to cover a 30 point line, they let the world know that before the game, and the other team can only bet that they will stop USC from covering that line.

A Major success from this will be the elimination of players making side money with friends and feeling like they have to conceal their actions, when really, its likely they did nothing wrong (as long as it wasn't a play bad bet, where they faked playing good, although it is forgivable)

Think about all those college players, you don't think they have any college friends who are into gambling, poker, sports betting?

let me guess, all this donald trump on the tube has turned your brain into mush!

first bush, then palin, now trump... dumbing down of America

I honestly have no issue with a player betting on his team to win. Someone explain the harm in that? Now betting against would be a major issue. 

So what happens when the fans, media etc etc all turn up to the game and learn that Rodgers bet on the bears and threw intercepts after intercepts?

Then he would be punished by losing that money and even more expensive of a loss is the trust from the team and from the fans. 

However, if one wants to argue it should be legal for players to bet against their team, then at least fans can make a vote on if they want that person to be a part of their city's team.  Do you want a guy that bet's against?  Likely not, thus, by natural order the players will be motivated to never bet against themselves because that would shorten their career and lose respects with people among their community.

Remember, if teams play bad, they don't get contract extensions. They are almost always damning themselves when they bet against themselves, they most likely do not recognize it however.  



This is all why I believe it should be public information who and how much the teams are betting.  Even better would be to allocate the money more properly.  For instance, Brady thought his team would score more than 17 points, but Plaxico burreess did no.  Therefore, Burress could have said his million dollar bet is directly towards Brady's million dollar bet.  So after the game, people aren't wondering who lost that money that Plaxico won.   This would add another element to the game for fans knowing that these guys are going to be exchanging money.  This lets you know they really want to win.


And honestly, these transaction already happen but they are well disguised.  Many times coaches are "playing for their jobs" in a "Must win game".  They are gambling, but it's well disguised.  . 

players gambling on games bad idea. However I think players should be able to get paid per performance. Like if a player got paid per touchdown. instead of a big lengthy contract or he got paid per sacks or every 3 pointer made in a basketball game.

If I'm Tiger Woods, you're saying I'm not allowed to bet my opponent some cash that I will beat him?

What happens if Arod bets the Packers, but Clay Matthews has the Bears? Just too many variables..... I would only allow this in boxing, MMA, tennis, golf, etc. and only if the player bet on himself.

Yes there are a lot of variable but too many?  I don't think there are too many.  It may be complicated, but imagine trying to explain football rules before the sport existed, imagine how many variables there are to the rules, which are still evolving every season 50+ years later.


Clearly Aaron and Clay would know each others picks if we set the rules properly to where players have to let the public know their picks.  In the case where Clay is betting against his team, someone can come along and let him know if this keeps up, he will get cut from the Green Bay Packers and good luck getting another team to sign you because you might try to sabotage their team as well, unless its the Bears because he has been a bears fan his whole life. 


What about the idea of NFL owners being able to give their players "Bonuses" if they win a game.  For instance, I tell Clay Matthews he will get $100,000 dollars cash bonus if they win this game next week.  I then go ahead and bet an extra $100,000 on the Packers, but Clay has no idea I did that, but is still motivated by the bonus incentive.  Would this be wrong?

Please dont reproduce.

people this dumb do exist



i wonder why spygate happened

Agreed Goose along with the "Black Sox Scandal" that took place in the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds and eight players were accused of intentionally losing games in exchange for money from gamblers. they were banned for life from baseball.

Lol awful idea.  Insider trading stocks is illegal so players shouldn't be betting on games.  If you want to gamble that bad, don't be a professional athlete.  

I assume this is a joke.