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Texans random thought of the day

Texans tabbed as one of 10 most improved rosters by NFL.com

A pair of unwatchable entities a year ago, Houston and Indy will stroll into September as revived operations -- if the draft picks pan out.

C.J. Stroud brings hope under center for the Texans, while first-round edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. gives newly minted head coach DeMeco Ryans a centerpiece to build around for years to come. After back-to-back one-and-done coaching staffs, I sense Houston has something special in Ryans. The club is suspect at wideout, but third-rounder Tank Dell brings speed, while 2022 second-rounder John Metchie III rejoins the mix after missing his rookie campaign while overcoming leukemia.
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I find it "interesting/screwy" to see that NFL owners are investors in Draft Kings [See bolded in the text of the article]

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NFL players on gambling policy, suspensions: ‘That could have been any one of us’
Late last month, when Lions receiver Jameson Williams told reporters that until he was suspended by the NFL he had no idea he was in violation of the league’s gambling policy, the second-year pro’s self-professed naivete was met with more than a few eye-rolls.

Williams and teammate Stanley Berryhill, a fellow receiver, were the first two NFL players to be disciplined for violating the portion of the policy that prevents players from betting on other sports while on team property.

Williams and Berryhill, each suspended six games, were two of four Lions players whose discipline was announced by the league on April 21. Receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore and Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney were each suspended indefinitely and can apply for reinstatement after the 2023 season. Berryhill, Cephus and Moore were all cut by Detroit after their suspensions were announced.

The Athletic reported that a fifth member of the 2022 Lions is currently under investigation for a potential violation of the gambling policy. ESPN reported that the league is investigating a “second wave of potential violations of its gambling policy.”
Mobile and online sports gambling is now legal in 21 states home to 15 NFL teams. The NFL has three official sports betting partners. Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones are investors in DraftKings, and owners voted this March to allow physical sports books to take bets at NFL stadiums.

The Athletic spent the last week interviewing NFL players around the league to ask what they know about the league’s gambling policy and found that four of the five players didn’t know they couldn’t place mobile bets on other sports while at work, the violation Williams and Berryhill were suspended for.

“I had no idea,” said a free agent with seven years of NFL experience. “I don’t think any player knows about that. That’s so specific. If players know about that, kudos to them.”

All five players knew they couldn’t bet on NFL action, but the rest of the details, the majority weren’t so sure about. Two of the five said that they have placed bets on other sports using mobile apps during their NFL careers.

“I thought that you couldn’t bet on anything during the NFL season,” said a nine-year NFL vet (in an incorrect reading of the NFL’s gambling policy). “I didn’t really look into it beyond that.”

“I don’t even know what the rule is, or when the rule changed or the fine print on what you can or can’t gamble on,” said a 10-year veteran.

The nine-year veteran said that last offseason he got into betting on golf tournaments using a mobile app registered under his own name. Before he placed his first bet, he checked with an NFLPA player rep to ask if he was okay to be doing that. The rep told him it was fine. He lost every bet he placed and has since deleted the app from his phone.

A year later, this player was still so unsure about the gambling policy that he asked The Athletic to double-check that betting on golf outside of work is actually allowed. (It is.)

The four players currently participating in the offseason programs said that they have received more information on the gambling policy from their coaches since the NFL announced the five player suspensions in April.

“They detailed the rule, and to that point I hadn’t been in many team meetings that they carved out time for it,” said the nine-year veteran. “It’s like a page in your training camp compliance meetings. They spend like four minutes on it.
“It’s like, yeah, don’t gamble on the NFL. You guys know this. Nobody spends time on it.”

The free-agent veteran player called Williams and Berryhill “sacrificial lambs.” All five players agreed that the NFL and the NFLPA need to do a better job at teaching the gambling policy to players, particularly in an environment where four teams have a sportsbook in their stadium or the immediate vicinity and the league has official partnerships with FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesar’s.

“I mean, New Orleans plays in the Caesars Superdome,” the nine-year veteran said. “I think it’s something that they’ve got to explicitly talk about.”

The Athletic granted each player anonymity to allow for honest conversation about a topic that has quickly become one of the most pressing issues of the offseason.

THE REST OF THE STORY
 
This is what happens when high-powered attorneys write NFL rules that only high-powered attorneys can understand. This is what happens when so many players are legally illiterate..............and "grow up" to run the NFLPA. Now high-powered attorneys will need to be hired to translate all rules for low intellect players so that high-powered NFL attorneys can still find avenues to nail low-intellect NFLPA and their players. :backsout:

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Everyone must do a better job of warning players about gambling
Posted by Mike Florio on June 6, 2023, 10:01 AM EDT

Although the evidence suggests that Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers knew he was violating the gambling policy, given that the account he used reportedly was in the name of an associate, this latest example of the intersection between NFL players and sports book apps should be the one that finally gets everyone’s attention.

Even if their attention should have been gotten years ago.

The fact that so many players have been suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy amounts to a failure by many. The league, the union, the teams, agents, everyone — including the players.

The NFL’s policy reads as if it was written by lawyers for lawyers. One or more teams, we’re told, have re-written it to make it understandable to players and non-players.

The league’s decision to unilaterally impose a gambling policy that includes clunky, inconsistent provisions regarding where and how players can bet on non-NFL sporting events has given the NFL Players Association no reason to take ownership of the final product and assist with its proper implementation. As a result, plenty of players don’t realize that, while it’s not a violation to make a bet on a non-NFL sporting event on the sidewalk outside the team facility, it becomes one as soon as they walk through the door.

The union has not made education the kind of priority that it should have been. When the crap hit the fan in April with five suspensions announced in one fell swoop, the union sent an email not to all players but to all agents. As if it’s the agents’ responsibility, not the union’s responsibility, to explain the rules to the players.

Everyone has an incentive to get this right. The NFL, the NFLPA, the unions, the teams, the agents, the players.

Everyone. Us included. We all want the best football players to be available to play football. We don’t want to see careers become derailed or destroyed because no one has gotten in each player’s face and made it clear to him that, if you do this, you will be caught, and you will be done.

Coaches get in players’ faces all the time, about all sorts of things. Coaches set clear rules for players all the time. Why is this any different?

Given the extreme consequences of a violation, this is something about which coaches should be hounding players every single day. The league should want that. The union should want that. Everyone should want that.

And if they are hounding the players constantly and it’s still happening, then maybe someone needs to take a step back and wonder whether something else is going on. Do some players arrive at the NFL already with a gambling addiction?

At a deeper level, is the NFL’s ongoing money grab via umpteen sports book sponsorships sending a mixed message to players who think that, if it’s OK for the owners to take gambling money on the back end, they should be allowed to try to take some of it on the front end?

Whatever the cause(s), it’s the biggest problem the NFL is currently facing. And it’s just a matter of time before the NFL finds itself without a star player or two because of it.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
This is what happens when high-powered attorneys write NFL rules that only high-powered attorneys can understand. This is what happens when so many players are legally illiterate..............and "grow up" to run the NFLPA. Now high-powered attorneys will need to be hired to translate all rules for low intellect players so that high-powered NFL attorneys can still find avenues to nail low-intellect NFLPA and their players. :backsout:
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To your point. Most companies have yearly ethics training that covers topics like company credit card usage, accepting gifts and their value from external vendors, business travel and even walk throughs of scenarios that presents ethical conflicts that puts their employees and the company at risk.

If these teams can bring in NFL referees for practice sessions. I don't know why the NFL and/or the NFLPA are not conducting ethics training that covers a serious topic like gambling and scenarios that puts the player and team at risk. The rookie symposium is not enough and having ex-players like Cris Carter at the symposium is useless. They should visit the teams during each training camp, conduct the ethics training and have them acknowledged that they have attended this mandatory training.

IMHO. I never thought I would see the day that the NFL or any sports league would embrace gambling. I understand the motive of all business is to make a profit, but endorsing gambling is such a money grab. I guess this is just another example of the greed of these owners and their insatiable appetite to increase revenue at any cost.
 
Earl34 said:
To your point. Most companies have yearly ethics training that covers topics like company credit card usage, accepting gifts and their value from external vendors, business travel and even walk throughs of scenarios that presents ethical conflicts that puts their employees and the company at risk.

If these teams can bring in NFL referees for practice sessions. I don't know why the NFL and/or the NFLPA are not conducting ethics training that covers a serious topic like gambling and scenarios that puts the player and team at risk. The rookie symposium is not enough and having ex-players like Cris Carter at the symposium is useless. They should visit the teams during each training camp, conduct the ethics training and have them acknowledged that they have attended this mandatory training.

IMHO. I never thought I would see the day that the NFL or any sports league would embrace gambling. I understand the motive of all business is to make a profit, but endorsing gambling is such a money grab. I guess this is just another example of the greed of these owners and their insatiable appetite to increase revenue at any cost.
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Good thoughts. Owner greed drives pretty much everything these days. It's palatable when they put a winning product on the field, or at least a competitive product. I give my money to the Astros, but haven't been to a Texans game in a hot minute, and not just because of the on-field product. Will see what this season brings. And I hate the Rockets so they will never get any of my money no matter how good they are.
 
Earl34 said:
IMHO. I never thought I would see the day that the NFL or any sports league would embrace gambling. I understand the motive of all business is to make a profit, but endorsing gambling is such a money grab. I guess this is just another example of the greed of these owners and their insatiable appetite to increase revenue at any cost.
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Owners are greedy. Not exactly a hot take. But that has nothing to do with NFL players gambling. The NFL fought tooth and nail for years to keep their games from being bet on. Until they realized they were fighting a lost cause. If the league didn't have marketing agreements with these gambling sites, the sites would still exist. And some player will risk their careers gambling. Just as some have risked their careers with drugs and PEDs. It's an addiction.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Everyone must do a better job of warning players about gambling
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I hate to disagree but this just sounds like a bunch of rich children that got caught with their hands in the cookie jar to me. How hard is it to understand "DON'T GAMBLE ON FOOTALL! PERIOD.".

If players cannot get that simple concept the league doesn't need something fancy like the S2. They just need a test that establishes about a third grade grasp of the written word.
 
mws said:
I hate to disagree but this just sounds like a bunch of rich children that got caught with their hands in the cookie jar to me. How hard is it to understand "DON'T GAMBLE ON FOOTALL! PERIOD.".

If players cannot get that simple concept the league doesn't need something fancy like the S2. They just need a test that establishes about a third grade grasp of the written word.
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I think there is much more that goes into it, and other sports are having huge problems also. Betting sponsorship has part-filled the huge hole left when tobacco got banned from bankrolling sport, just as crazy as it was to have elite athletes advertising cigarettes, it’s also ridiculous to ask a bunch of young kids to advertise gambling, whilst paying them huge wages over a very short period that makes them particularly vulnerable to gambling addiction.
 
Earl34 said:
To your point. Most companies have yearly ethics training that covers topics like company credit card usage, accepting gifts and their value from external vendors, business travel and even walk throughs of scenarios that presents ethical conflicts that puts their employees and the company at risk.

If these teams can bring in NFL referees for practice sessions. I don't know why the NFL and/or the NFLPA are not conducting ethics training that covers a serious topic like gambling and scenarios that puts the player and team at risk. The rookie symposium is not enough and having ex-players like Cris Carter at the symposium is useless. They should visit the teams during each training camp, conduct the ethics training and have them acknowledged that they have attended this mandatory training.

IMHO. I never thought I would see the day that the NFL or any sports league would embrace gambling. I understand the motive of all business is to make a profit, but endorsing gambling is such a money grab. I guess this is just another example of the greed of these owners and their insatiable appetite to increase revenue at any cost.
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And how Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft can be allowed to invest in a sports gambling organization [Draft Kings] is beyond belief.
 
mws said:
I hate to disagree but this just sounds like a bunch of rich children that got caught with their hands in the cookie jar to me. How hard is it to understand "DON'T GAMBLE ON FOOTALL! PERIOD.".

If players cannot get that simple concept the league doesn't need something fancy like the S2. They just need a test that establishes about a third grade grasp of the written word.
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That could still rule out too many NFL players. :mcnugget:
 
Players gambling is not anything new. You have had athletes caught up with gambling way before sport leagues got into bed with the gambling sites, going all the way back to the 1921 World Series scandal. Pete Rose comes to mind.

IMO it is just in this age of information it is easier to catch them. It still comes back to understanding the rules & willingly breaking them.
 
I'm currently watching a game on NFL Network that's challenging my concept of reality.

Dolphins vs Jets, 1994.

Marino threw a pass to Irving Fryar and the defender was Aaron Glenn.
They kind of threw me. In my mind there was no way Glenn played while Marino was still playing but I was wrong. It was Glenn's rookie season.
Then the Jets get the ball. I'm half paying attention, but I think I see Boomer Esiason throw a pass to Art Monk.
I'm like wtf, no way.
Do a little googling, and yep, they were both on the Jets in 1994.
Just about then, the camera pans to to the Jets sideline and Pete Carroll is the head coach.

I'm scratching my head. I remember some of these things, but all of it in this one game is making me question my memory.

*caveat* I'm laid up recovering from cataract surgery this morning and possibly still under the influence of the valium they gave me lol
 
sandman said:
Good thoughts. Owner greed drives pretty much everything these days. It's palatable when they put a winning product on the field, or at least a competitive product. I give my money to the Astros, but haven't been to a Texans game in a hot minute, and not just because of the on-field product. Will see what this season brings. And I hate the Rockets so they will never get any of my money no matter how good they are.
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It's not just "Owner's greed", it's players greed too that's driving this. They all want their guaranteed contracts.. well the new money stream has to come from somewhere.
 
mws said:
I hate to disagree but this just sounds like a bunch of rich children that got caught with their hands in the cookie jar to me. How hard is it to understand "DON'T GAMBLE ON FOOTALL! PERIOD.".
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It's not just betting on football, it's betting on anything while in any facility associated with the NFL. Hotel, transportation, meeting rooms, etc.
 
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CloakNNNdagger said:
And how Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft can be allowed to invest in a sports gambling organization [Draft Kings] is beyond belief.
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If there were a rule against it, I'd agree, but there is no such rule. There is, however, a rule that says players can't gamble on site or on NFL period. Pretty simple. Wasn't somebody doing it through somebody elses account? That guy knew the rule, he just elected to sneak his way around it. As @Lucky said, players are going to risk it just as they do with PEDs.
 
Speedy said:
If there were a rule against it, I'd agree, but there is no such rule. There is, however, a rule that says players can't gamble on site or on NFL period. Pretty simple. Wasn't somebody doing it through somebody elses account? That guy knew the rule, he just elected to sneak his way around it. As @Lucky said, players are going to risk it just as they do with PEDs.
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I don't disagree with the players' responsibility by rules. But to me there something grossly unethical for the owners to be invested in football gambling businesses.
 
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Here's a quote from an interesting article on 610.com by John McClain "Texans haven’t ranked among top 10 in scoring and yards since the Kubiak era".

"Under Kubiak, they finished among the top-10 highest-scoring teams in four seasons (2009-2012). They also ranked among the 10-best offenses four times (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012)."

Sadly since 2012 the Texans offense has not finished in the top ten in scoring or yards. Not even in Watson's best years. As kool-aid drinky as it sounds it feels like we have finally turned the page.
 
mws said:
Here's a quote from an interesting article on 610.com by John McClain "Texans haven’t ranked among top 10 in scoring and yards since the Kubiak era".

"Under Kubiak, they finished among the top-10 highest-scoring teams in four seasons (2009-2012). They also ranked among the 10-best offenses four times (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012)."

Sadly since 2012 the Texans offense has not finished in the top ten in scoring or yards. Not even in Watson's best years. As kool-aid drinky as it sounds it feels like we have finally turned the page.
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If not this year, then next.
 
mws said:
Here's a quote from an interesting article on 610.com by John McClain "Texans haven’t ranked among top 10 in scoring and yards since the Kubiak era".

"Under Kubiak, they finished among the top-10 highest-scoring teams in four seasons (2009-2012). They also ranked among the 10-best offenses four times (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012)."

Sadly since 2012 the Texans offense has not finished in the top ten in scoring or yards. Not even in Watson's best years. As kool-aid drinky as it sounds it feels like we have finally turned the page.
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I don't know if it's "kool-aid drinky". I don't really think in those terms, just like I don't think it "Debbie-downer" terms. I dislike both of those terms and others like them. I do think there are fans that are more optimistic than others. I consider myself as usually somewhere in the middle. And I always knew that after O'Brien got fired the team was going to look like a disaster for several years. I believe the Texans most definitely have turned the page, especially in regard to the offense. They did so when they drafted CJ Stroud. I just don't know what the next page is going to be. So much of that depends on what caliber quarterback are we getting with Stroud and can Pierce stay healthy. To me those are very big question marks. Some have no doubt CJ Stroud is going to be good to great, and the Texans were just being overly cautious with Pierce last season. I'm unsure about both of those things.

If the Texans crack the top 20 in scoring and yards on offense, I'd consider that a good sign for the future. Right now I feel they're still at least a year away from making a big jump. This is a new offense - new players, new coaches, new schemes. I expect a lot of growing pains.
 
banned1976 said:
If the Texans crack the top 20 in scoring and yards on offense, I'd consider that a good sign for the future. Right now I feel they're still at least a year away from making a big jump. This is a new offense - new players, new coaches, new schemes. I expect a lot of growing pains.
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I'm sticking with my horrible first half, good second half for the offense this year. It will be bad around these parts before the bye week.
 
sandman said:
I'm sticking with my horrible first half, good second half for the offense this year. It will be bad around these parts before the bye week.
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I'd be good with that. I'm just hoping to see consistent improvement as the season rolls along. And I absolutely agree with in that it's probably going to be sloppy early. Am I 100% sure that's going to be the case? No. Strange things happen in the NFL. I write a lot of what could be interpreted as negative because of the unknown, because of all the changes. We've seen teams compile a roster full of pro-bowlers in one offseason and completely fail. The modest improvements the Texans have made to their roster this offseason could do the opposite and catch fire on day 1 and exceed everyone's expectations. I'd love that.

I could not have written this last year or the year before that or the year before that.
 
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