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Never say never, but even with sports gambling now legal in Massachusetts don’t expect the New England Patriots to have any players suspended for betting. Why?
Two reasons: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
The two icons that together helped the Pats win an NFL-record six Super Bowls are now – separately – helping to curb any thoughts of players violating the league’s rules against gambling.
Brady, who retired in March and will be back in Foxboro to be honored during the team’s season opener Sept. 10, recorded the introduction to an anti-gambling video for the NFL. And during OTAs, current Pats players say Belichick has reminded them about the pitfalls of gambling as well.
“Bill talked about that in very large detail,” Deatrich Wise said after an OTA session this week. “He always tells us what we need to do, what we need to stay away from and we had a whole meeting just about that. We do a good job of learning from coach Belichick.”
Added veteran safety Kyle Dugger, “I know the rules. We had a meeting and went over it. So, yeah. I’m good on it.”
The players heard the message from Belichick, and saw it from Brady.
The winningest quarterback in league history recorded the intro for the NFL’s educational video on gambling that will be shown to every team. During his portion of the video, the seven-time Super Bowl champion emphasizes several things that players need to keep in mind about gambling:
*Don’t throw your career away by making a bet, and a reminder that you worked too hard to lose it all by gambling.
*Playing in the NFL is a privilege, and each player should treat it as such.
*Betting on games not only hurts the integrity of the NFL, but also damages the reputation of you and everyone on your team.
It’s been an ugly offseason for the NFL when it comes to gambling. As receiver Calvin Ridley prepares to return from his one-year suspension, several players have already been reprimanded for violating the league’s gambling policy and at least two more are under investigation.
Isaiah Rodgers of the Colts is the latest player being scrutinized for violating the league’s gambling policy. According to multiple reports, Rodgers placed roughly 100 bets with some of those coming on Colts games. This comes after five Lions and a member of the Commanders were suspended in April.
The NFL only has two rules regarding gambling: 1. No betting on NFL-related events; 2. No placing bets of any kind inside an NFL facility.
Thanks to Belichick and Brady, those simple messages are being received in Foxboro loud and clear.
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