$35 billion ‘inevitable scandal’ could be looming on the horizon for the NFL amid Shedeur Sanders prank call
It’s all fun and games…until it isn’t. Shedeur Sanders was the victim of a classless and rotten prank phone call during the draft, which led notable NFL insider, Mike Florio, to speculate whether this could lead to a much bigger issue down the road for the NFL. The NFL investigated how Sanders’ phone number got leakedGetty Florio wasn’t talking about prank calls. While the prank was in poor taste, it was ultimately harmless and trivial. What may not be so harmless and trivial is the way that 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, was able to get his hands on Sanders’ private phone number in the first place. The younger Ulbrich came upon the phone number on an “open iPad” issued to his father by the Falcons. He saw the number, wrote it down, and we all know what happened after that. What Florio points out, and focuses on, is the “misappropriated inside information.” He believes this small incident could be a precursor of much larger problems to come. “That’s the key, inside information,” Florio wrote. “The Ulbrich situation is a reminder that: (1) inside information exists; (2) it can be easily obtained; (3) it can be used for gambling. “And would it shock anyone if a 21-year-old were trying to finagle inside information that he and his buddies could use to get an edge on their betting apps?” FanDuel is one of the most popular sportsbooksGetty Sportsbooks have taken over sportsGetty It’s hard to watch or go to a game without running into a gambling ad of some sortGetty The sports gambling industry has seen exponential growth in the last few years and professional sports leagues have wrapped their arms around it and embraced the volatile industry. Especially the National Football League. And that’s what makes Florio wary of what could be coming down the pike. “It became obvious that the NFL isn’t nearly as concerned as it needs to be about how its inside information can be misused by those who hope to tilt the odds in their favor,” Florio continued. “The Sanders prank call proves conclusively that the means for getting it exists. “And the clock keeps ticking toward the inevitable scandal. Will the NFL button things up before it happens?” DraftKings is also one of the country’s biggest sportsbooksGetty There have already been incidents of NFL players being suspended and released due to gambling activity that violates the NFL rulebook. However, those were minor incidents and were all handled internally, with no impact on actual NFL games. However, there have been major scandals in other leagues, most notably Jontay Porter and the NBA. In Porter’s case, he purposely impacted the outcome of games and put the integrity of the entire league into question. That led to NBA commissioner Adam Silver slapping a lifetime ban on the former Toronto Raptor. Florio’s point is that if a 21-year-old was able to access Sanders’ phone number so easily, what other information could he have accessed? Last season, over $35 billion was legally wagered throughout the NFL season. The moment inside information starts getting leaked to outside parties to tilt the scales in their favor to win their bets is when the NFL will declare DEFCON 1. Today, it’s prank phone calls. Tomorrow, it could be a major $35 billion gambling scandal.
It’s all fun and games…until it isn’t.
Shedeur Sanders was the victim of a classless and rotten prank phone call during the draft, which led notable NFL insider, Mike Florio, to speculate whether this could lead to a much bigger issue down the road for the NFL.
Florio wasn’t talking about prank calls.
While the prank was in poor taste, it was ultimately harmless and trivial.
What may not be so harmless and trivial is the way that 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, was able to get his hands on Sanders’ private phone number in the first place.
The younger Ulbrich came upon the phone number on an “open iPad” issued to his father by the Falcons.
He saw the number, wrote it down, and we all know what happened after that.
What Florio points out, and focuses on, is the “misappropriated inside information.”
He believes this small incident could be a precursor of much larger problems to come.
“That’s the key, inside information,” Florio wrote.
“The Ulbrich situation is a reminder that: (1) inside information exists; (2) it can be easily obtained; (3) it can be used for gambling.
“And would it shock anyone if a 21-year-old were trying to finagle inside information that he and his buddies could use to get an edge on their betting apps?”
The sports gambling industry has seen exponential growth in the last few years and professional sports leagues have wrapped their arms around it and embraced the volatile industry.
Especially the National Football League.
And that’s what makes Florio wary of what could be coming down the pike.
“It became obvious that the NFL isn’t nearly as concerned as it needs to be about how its inside information can be misused by those who hope to tilt the odds in their favor,” Florio continued.
“The Sanders prank call proves conclusively that the means for getting it exists.
“And the clock keeps ticking toward the inevitable scandal. Will the NFL button things up before it happens?”
There have already been incidents of NFL players being suspended and released due to gambling activity that violates the NFL rulebook.
However, those were minor incidents and were all handled internally, with no impact on actual NFL games.
However, there have been major scandals in other leagues, most notably Jontay Porter and the NBA.
In Porter’s case, he purposely impacted the outcome of games and put the integrity of the entire league into question.
That led to NBA commissioner Adam Silver slapping a lifetime ban on the former Toronto Raptor.
Florio’s point is that if a 21-year-old was able to access Sanders’ phone number so easily, what other information could he have accessed?
Last season, over $35 billion was legally wagered throughout the NFL season.
The moment inside information starts getting leaked to outside parties to tilt the scales in their favor to win their bets is when the NFL will declare DEFCON 1.
Today, it’s prank phone calls.
