As the NFL continues to strengthen its relationship with the sports betting world, they also continue to ensure that the integrity of the league remains intact as they have instituted hefty penalties for any players and staffers found guilty of violating their gambling guidelines. Over the past few season players have been forced to sit out for a season, including former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who missed the 2022 season due to violating the league’s policy on betting on NFL games and most recently Isaiah Rogers, Rashod Berry and Demetrius Taylor were all suspended indefinitely by the NFL for gambling on NFL games.
On Sunday, when the Falcons took the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one player notably not getting much usage was rookie, Bijan Robinson, who in the first six games of the season, has been a vital part of the Atlanta offensive game plan, however on Sunday, Robinson played just six snaps and did not receive a touch on any of those plays. And while reports throughout the game led to the first year player dealing with illness, resulting in his lack of playing time in the Falcons 16-13 win over the Buccaneers, questions as to why Atlanta did not report Robinson’s situation prior to game time. When asked about the situation following the game, Falcons head coach, Arthur Smith told the media that Robinson simply reported to the game feeling under the weather but felt that he would still be able to suit up and go for the team.
Ultimately, the NFL decided they will look into the Falcons, Robinson scenario and announced that they are questioning the Falcons so to ensure that the team did not violate any rules in regards to reporting injuries. While it appears the Falcons have not violated any protocols for reporting player injury/illness, Chris “The Bear” Fallica host of Bear Bets, joined The Steakhouse on Tuesday to explain why what happens in Vegas also has a hand in why the NFL must do their due diligence in investigating the Robinson situation.
“If you were privy to that information, you made a killing,” Fallica told Steak Shapiro and Sandra Golden, explaining that had an individual had inside information that Robinson would be limited on snaps, betting odds would have been in their favor on Sunday, something the NFL has zero tolerance for. “If they’re serious about gambling and they’re suspending players for wagering on non NFL things in team facilities and now you get wind about players maybe not healthy and not on the injury report, that’s a big deal,” Fallica told Shapiro and Golden.
Click link above to hear Chris Fallica’s comment in its entirety
