Is the NFL rigged?

[Bosoxfan5990]

MLB umpire was fired for sharing a betting account with a friend...

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by mc1

Ohh yeah when it became evident that people still don’t know the rules for a catch. There was a penalty against Buffalo anyways. Chiefs were getting the ball, one way or another.

As I have pointed out, it was a 21 yard mistake that benefitted KC.

Also, as I have pointed out before, it's amazing how all the bad calls always favor one team.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

MLB umpire was fired for sharing a betting account with a friend...

It wasn't just that he shared a betting account, it was that the betting account bet on baseball.

I just cannot fathom the kind of idiocy to do such a thing. If he is innocent, he was a complete moron for sharing a betting account with a friend. If he is guilty, he was a complete moron for sharing a betting account with a friend.

[88horsepower]

Originally Posted by mc1

Ohh yeah when it became evident that people still don’t know the rules for a catch. There was a penalty against Buffalo anyways. Chiefs were getting the ball, one way or another.

About the rules for the catch situation, the NFL has a very convenient way of getting around things when so many aspects of the game are unclear and up to the discretion of the officials. There's been so much back and forth on what constitutes a catch or a penalty and where a ball should be spotted that the NFL has a really nice cushion for when "bad" calls are made.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

About the rules for the catch situation, the NFL has a very convenient way of getting around things when so many aspects of the game are unclear and up to the discretion of the officials. There's been so much back and forth on what constitutes a catch or a penalty and where a ball should be spotted that the NFL has a really nice cushion for when "bad" calls are made.

People on these threads kept saying the ball HIT the ground. Touching the ground is not the same as HITTING the ground. Also, the ball can touch the ground and still be a catch. It’s like some people have never read the rules.

[88horsepower]

Originally Posted by mc1

People on these threads kept saying the ball HIT the ground. Touching the ground is not the same as HITTING the ground. Also, the ball can touch the ground and still be a catch. It’s like some people have never read the rules.

We could argue this all day and you'll never concede.

Oh, by the way, a very prominent ump in major league baseball just got canned for issues related to integrity and sports betting. I'm guessing you think that's just an issue for baseball though.

[Chaddie84]

Casual observation leads me to believe that there are exclusively two parties in this thread:

1. People that believe the NFL is rigged
2. KC Fans / Swifties

[Ninotores]

People running right to insults for an opinion others have is interesting. Like they feel threatened someone can be an individual? I don't know. Society is in a weird time. No one is allowed outside of group think.

That being said, I think it's very short-sighted to believe a cog like the NFL cannot "possibly" be rigged. Now before you get all huffy and puffy, this isn't me saying it is rigged. I'm saying it's quite odd how people in this thread won't even consider it when there's been many odd decisions and choices through games that have been made, some could be erroneous but others just look blatant. And the biggest factor that for some reason is looked over. Money. Money will make men do pretty much anything. With all the gambling and Vegas related stuff now. I would not be surprised if you had a select few people who could control the game. A few Ref's etc.

Owners wouldn't care. Some of you mentioned owners. Again, you act like some of these owners are fans lol. They're businessmen. As long as the seats are filled and the money is coming in, what do they care? Look at a team like the Bears. Awful, one of the worst organizations in the history of football. Bad decision after bad decision. Yet, every home game, all 8 of them, the stadium is sold out. The fans think "this is the year". What would motivate an owner to care about the outcome of a game if the flow of money continues regardless to how bad or how good your team is? On another subject one can ask what motivates these owners to improve the team as well, if they continue to make money - but that's another discussion.

Do I think there is a script teams follow? No. That's ridiculous on the very easy fact that in 2025 a script would have leaked from someone by now and been placed all over the internet. Movie scripts were getting leaked 2 decades ago before the internet was nearly what it is today. Foster and these other players claiming of scripts are, imo, just looking for attention now that their careers are over and they have nothing else.

Do I think a group of Refs can be given money under the table to throw a few extra flags or ignore a few penalties to help keep a score or player at a certain place that Vegas can make a lot of money on? Absolutely. Doesn't mean it's happening, but it would not surprise me at all. If there is money to be made, man will find a way to make it. People are flawed creatures that love to tamper with everything. We get in our own way. Sports isn't an exception to that.

[Grid]

Looks like we can end this debate. Sorry guys. Roger Goodell says the NFL is not rigged.


https://thespun.com/nfl/is-the-nfl-r...oodell-answers

And if you need more proof than that. Travis Kelce, the owner of the Chiefs and even Brittney Mahomes can all confirm it is not rigged.

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/kansas-...-roger-goodell

[dbpsooner]

Originally Posted by Ninotores

People running right to insults for an opinion others have is interesting. Like they feel threatened someone can be an individual? I don't know. Society is in a weird time. No one is allowed outside of group think.

That being said, I think it's very short-sighted to believe a cog like the NFL cannot "possibly" be rigged. Now before you get all huffy and puffy, this isn't me saying it is rigged. I'm saying it's quite odd how people in this thread won't even consider it when there's been many odd decisions and choices through games that have been made, some could be erroneous but others just look blatant. And the biggest factor that for some reason is looked over. Money. Money will make men do pretty much anything. With all the gambling and Vegas related stuff now. I would not be surprised if you had a select few people who could control the game. A few Ref's etc.

Owners wouldn't care. Some of you mentioned owners. Again, you act like some of these owners are fans lol. They're businessmen. As long as the seats are filled and the money is coming in, what do they care? Look at a team like the Bears. Awful, one of the worst organizations in the history of football. Bad decision after bad decision. Yet, every home game, all 8 of them, the stadium is sold out. The fans think "this is the year". What would motivate an owner to care about the outcome of a game if the flow of money continues regardless to how bad or how good your team is? On another subject one can ask what motivates these owners to improve the team as well, if they continue to make money - but that's another discussion.

Do I think there is a script teams follow? No. That's ridiculous on the very easy fact that in 2025 a script would have leaked from someone by now and been placed all over the internet. Movie scripts were getting leaked 2 decades ago before the internet was nearly what it is today. Foster and these other players claiming of scripts are, imo, just looking for attention now that their careers are over and they have nothing else.

Do I think a group of Refs can be given money under the table to throw a few extra flags or ignore a few penalties to help keep a score or player at a certain place that Vegas can make a lot of money on? Absolutely. Doesn't mean it's happening, but it would not surprise me at all. If there is money to be made, man will find a way to make it. People are flawed creatures that love to tamper with everything. We get in our own way. Sports isn't an exception to that.

There are two significantly different arguments that people seem to conflate often. Being rigged/scripted at the NFL level is laughable imo.

Corruption is a completely different argument. I do not believe the current NFL suffers from corruption, but a corrupt official in the pocket of a high end gambler/book maker is much more plausible than a rigged/scripted game, although both are highly unlikely.

As for the NFL owners being businessmen and not fans, any scandal involving corruption or a rigged result would crush the NFL and in turn, negatively impact the owners. Filling seats is such a small blip on the bottom line of a football organization. Gambling is a big reason the sport is so popular. Between fantasy sports, sports betting, heck even sports cards to a smaller degree, a big part of tv ratings is a result of these gambling activities. The NFL takes incredible precautions to keep scandal/corruption out of the league because it would be crushing if it happened. It is why penalties for players are so harsh when they are caught violating the league gambling rules.

[SleeperCards]

When did we collectively lose our minds, 2016? 2020? Humanity was a mistake.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

We could argue this all day and you'll never concede.

Oh, by the way, a very prominent ump in major league baseball just got canned for issues related to integrity and sports betting. I'm guessing you think that's just an issue for baseball though.

Was he affecting games and fixing games? On his own or under league direction?

It is one thing to claim a player or ref can affect the outcome of a game. It is a completely different one to claim the league, owners, coaches AND players are fixing the results of games.

In the baseball thread you point to Brady and the Patriots success as proof that the NFL is fixed. That is funny since I remember clearly that the Pats fans were sure Goodell and the league hated them. They were glad and proud to win despite the league being “out to get them”.

[SleeperCards]

Originally Posted by mc1

Was he affecting games and fixing games? On his own or under league direction?

It is one thing to claim a player or ref can affect the outcome of a game. It is a completely different one to claim the league, owners, coaches AND players are fixing the results of games.

In the baseball thread you point to Brady and the Patriots success as proof that the NFL is fixed. That is funny since I remember clearly that the Pats fans were sure Goodell and the league hated them. They were glad and proud to win despite the league being “out to get them”.

Which makes it all the more laughable when you see Patriots fans (fans of a team that literally cheated) now saying things are rigged for KC. You can't make this up. Well, you can, but you shouldn't because it's stupid.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by dbpsooner

There are two significantly different arguments that people seem to conflate often. Being rigged/scripted at the NFL level is laughable imo.

Corruption is a completely different argument. I do not believe the current NFL suffers from corruption, but a corrupt official in the pocket of a high end gambler/book maker is much more plausible than a rigged/scripted game, although both are highly unlikely.

As for the NFL owners being businessmen and not fans, any scandal involving corruption or a rigged result would crush the NFL and in turn, negatively impact the owners. Filling seats is such a small blip on the bottom line of a football organization. Gambling is a big reason the sport is so popular. Between fantasy sports, sports betting, heck even sports cards to a smaller degree, a big part of tv ratings is a result of these gambling activities. The NFL takes incredible precautions to keep scandal/corruption out of the league because it would be crushing if it happened. It is why penalties for players are so harsh when they are caught violating the league gambling rules.

True.
Ratings were down during the regular season, wild card and Divisional playoff round. I’m sure owners feel fixing games for the Chiefs year-after-year is good for them, good for business and good for ratings.

[chompie99]

Originally Posted by dbpsooner

There are two significantly different arguments that people seem to conflate often. Being rigged/scripted at the NFL level is laughable imo.

Corruption is a completely different argument. I do not believe the current NFL suffers from corruption, but a corrupt official in the pocket of a high end gambler/book maker is much more plausible than a rigged/scripted game, although both are highly unlikely.

As for the NFL owners being businessmen and not fans, any scandal involving corruption or a rigged result would crush the NFL and in turn, negatively impact the owners. Filling seats is such a small blip on the bottom line of a football organization. Gambling is a big reason the sport is so popular. Between fantasy sports, sports betting, heck even sports cards to a smaller degree, a big part of tv ratings is a result of these gambling activities. The NFL takes incredible precautions to keep scandal/corruption out of the league because it would be crushing if it happened. It is why penalties for players are so harsh when they are caught violating the league gambling rules.

As usual, your explanations are concise and to the point. I largely agree. The tough point is that the tinfoil hat crowd has become so entrenched and keeps digging in harder as long as the Chiefs continue to win. Every podcast is discussing this now with the results of massive engagement which is the name of the game. It just isn’t possible that the Chiefs have been one of the most clutch teams in history this year. Lucky too at times. Almost as if they don’t want it to be true. I’ve been a Chiefs fan since the 90s, so of course I’ll be guilty of some bias.

I’d say there is a 60% chance the Chiefs will win. That means a 40% chance the Eagles will win. Not insignificant by any means. It will come down to who comes through in crunch time. There will be key plays and controversy, that’s almost a given. I’d say referees will probably be scrutinized and graded tighter than ever in the offseason. It is a lot different making calls at game speed vs slow motion instant replays.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by SleeperCards

Which makes it all the more laughable when you see Patriots fans (fans of a team that literally cheated) now saying things are rigged for KC. You can't make this up. Well, you can, but you shouldn't because it's stupid.

It’s exhausting. What is it? Did the NFL hate or love the Pats? Did they help them win titles or did they do everything they could to sabotage them? I guess it depends who you ask! If they truly hated them then how or why did they let them or HELP them win?

[88horsepower]

Originally Posted by mc1

It’s exhausting. What is it? Did the NFL hate or love the Pats? Did they help them win titles or did they do everything they could to sabotage them? I guess it depends who you ask! If they truly hated them then how or why did they let them or HELP them win?

Explain to me why the NFL destroyed all of the Spygate evidence. I'll wait.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by Ninotores

And the biggest factor that for some reason is looked over. Money. Money will make men do pretty much anything.

[Ninotores]

Americans expected to legally bet $1.39 bln on Super Bowl, AGA says

https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/a...ys-2025-02-04/

[Ninotores]

Originally Posted by Grid

Looks like we can end this debate. Sorry guys. Roger Goodell says the NFL is not rigged.


https://thespun.com/nfl/is-the-nfl-r...oodell-answers

And if you need more proof than that. Travis Kelce, the owner of the Chiefs and even Brittney Mahomes can all confirm it is not rigged.

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/kansas-...-roger-goodell

Why do these people even comment? They have to realize them speaking on it only adds more suspicion?

[chompie99]

Originally Posted by Ninotores

Why do these people even comment? They have to realize them speaking on it only adds more suspicion?

And if they don’t comment? Of course they’re not commenting because they know it’s true.

As I said earlier, folks just wanna dig in deeper.

[rms13]

My probably unpopular opinion is "who cares?". It's entertainment. I loved wrestling as a kid in the 80s when I thought it was real and I still loved it later as a teen and adult when I knew is was predetermined.

[Ninotores]

Originally Posted by chompie99

And if they don’t comment? Of course they’re not commenting because they know it’s true.

As I said earlier, folks just wanna dig in deeper.

That can go both ways
"folks just want to bury their head in the sand".

[dbpsooner]

Originally Posted by Ninotores

Why do these people even comment? They have to realize them speaking on it only adds more suspicion?

If the media asked you a line of questions, which implicated the integrity of you and your business, would you say nothing/no comment, or defend yourself by calling these inquiries exactly what they are...ridiculous

[Ninotores]

Originally Posted by rms13

My probably unpopular opinion is "who cares?". It's entertainment. I loved wrestling as a kid in the 80s when I thought it was real and I still loved it later as a teen and adult when I knew is was predetermined.

I actually had this very conversation with a buddy. I used the same wrestling comparison. I think the big difference is if it were scripted like wrestling, it would take away some of the awe from big plays made. Wrestling doesn't have that issue. But as far as the outcome being predetermined, we don't know it either way, so seems like a moot point. But the plays themselves would be seen as lesser if theyre allowed to happen, etc.