In Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Steelers were about to defeat the San Diego Chargers by a final score of 11-10. The Chargers had the ball with five seconds left in the game, and were on their own 20-yard line. Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers began a final desperation play to end the game. If the play some how succeeded the Chargers would win the game by a final of 16-11. However is the play failed, the game would be over with zeros on the clock, and the Steelers holding the 11-10 lead. The Chargers offense began a flea flicker play. The play is designed to keep the ball moving forward while passing the ball either laterally or behind, all the while avoiding a tackle. The ball was passed three times. The third throw was a reverse lateral that was dropped and picked up by the Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu. With the play clock dead and the ball having been turned over, the game was essentially over. However Polamalu ran the ball back into the end zone for a Pittsburgh touchdown. The whistle was blown, the clock was dead, and the Steelers controlled the ball in the Chargers end zone.
Final score 17-10 right?
Not so much.
First the play went under booth review because the possibility existed that the turnover occurred on a forward lateral. It was a play of controversy inside of two minutes left in the game. Standard NFL practice to review any such plays. However even if the ball had not been turned over, the Steelers would have declined any penalty, and the game would still have been over. To make the matter worse, the ball was not a forward lateral. It was a clean play, a clean turnover, and a clean touchdown. The game should have ended with a final score of 17-10. Still even so, the NFL officials were considering lining up the two teams for a meaningless extra point attempt if the touchdown had held up. Instead the ruling on the field was overturned and the touchdown did not count. The final score was 11-10. All the controversy, all the time to review the play, and the NFL officials still got the call wrong.
But after all who the hell cares?
A win is a win is a win. Why should it matter to anyone on the field weather the score was 11-10 or 17-10 or 18-10? Points do matter slightly when determining playoff stature in the NFL. However point spread is not until seventh in the determining factors. Meaning things like divisional record, rank higher in playoff standings then things like, total points.
So in the end, my question remains, who cares?
It matters very little to the players or coaches, but to the millions of Americans who engage in fantasy football and the millions more who bet on the NFL weekly, it matters big time.
It’s the giant elephant in the room that the NFL would rather not discuss.
Even I have engaged in some significant betting this football season. (About 500 bucks in the hole as I type!) If its easy enough for me, the “Average Joe Fan” to find myself a bookie, then imagine how many other common fans put down money on games each weekend. The estimated number of fans who bet on sports on the Internet is in the neighborhood of 1.5 billion according to google.com. When I did an Internet search to find statistics on sports betting, it only lead to over 7 million hits on sports betting websites.
Then there is fantasy football. An estimated 15 million fans belong to fantasy leagues. More then one billion dollars is spent annually on fantasy football. Total points scored by players and teams; largely determine the rules of these leagues.
Let us not forget Las Vegas.
Las Vegas, America's adult playground, is the only city in the country where sports gambling is actually legal. Individual Vegas sports books net an estimated 12.9 million on Super Bowl weekend alone. I am all too familiar with the roar of the Sports book. Fans going nuts over a late fourth quarter touch down, when the winners and losers of the game itself have already been long determined. Point spreads, and over under’s allow for higher betting risks, and therefore higher financial reward to the better. It also allows the house to set rules that cover them, and insure dealer profit.
The only problem with the whole system of gambling on NFL games is when the gamblers, bookies, and fantasy leaguers, off the field influence the activities taking place on the field. Up until recently a lot of league factors have indirectly supported each side. The NFL draft and its ability to keep all teams equal, is both helpful to gamblers and to the NFL. The salary cap is equally helpful both on the field and off it. However instant replay has become a harmful vice in the NFL. It seems like it’s more important to get the call right for those off the field then for those on it.
An estimated 32 million dollars was lost in bets from the referees blown call in the Pittsburgh game on November 16th.
Seeing games like the one in Pittsburgh only enrage me as a sport purest. (I know that sounds funny. The “average Joe fan” who considerers himself a purest yet admits to having a sports bookie.) However far too often actions are taking place in NFL games for no other reason then to appease the sports better and fantasy leaguers. My betting life aside, no organization benefits from outside influence with a financial agenda.
