Coach Mike Tomlin Becomes Part of the Special Teams Unit

As Charlie Harper once said, "it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's whether or not you beat the spread." Last week on Turkey day, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin tried helping this cause. With his team down 13-7 in the third quarter Tomlin decided to step in, literally. Baltimore Ravens return man Jacoby Jones was about to run back a touchdown until he had to cut back to avoid Tomlin who was standing on the edge of the field clearly impeding Jones path down the sideline which allowed the Steelers to catch him and bring him down before taking one to the house. Watch the video above and click here for another view. Tomlin has profusely apologized and maintains his innocence for his blunder but others like Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco believe the incident was intentional. Currently the NFL is investigating the actions of this play before handing down possible punishment towards Tomlin and the Steelers.

Some might say who cares, it didn't have an impact on the game as the Ravens still won 22-20. But in Vegas is had a huge impact on the betting outcome as the Ravens were three point favorites. The Ravens were limited to a field goal on that drive that should have been a touchdown. This would have made the final score 26-20 with the Ravens covering but because of this gaffe the Steelers back doored the three point spread and covered by one point.

More Monday Night Football Shenanigans

Did anyone catch the ending of the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers game two weeks ago? I had no action other than my confidence pool but I was watching this game with a friend who did take the Patriots on the spread and think he got screwed along with everyone else who took the Patriots.

With just 3 seconds left in the game from the 18 yard line, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fired one last shot to tight end Rob Gronkowski. The pass was intercepted but the official at the back of the end zone threw a flag for pass interference on Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly who clearly was impeding Gronkowski from turning to make the catch. After officials gathered for a moment they waived off the penalty and called the game over.

The part that makes it even more interesting is that the Panthers were 3 point favorites with more action on the Patriots. Final result, Panthers 24 - Patriots 20. Once again right down to the last play and the side with more action loses. Doesn't anyone notice this happen over and over and over again? Obviously they can't have every game come that close for suspicion but the high number of games that do is completely impossible unless manipulated.

Once again the NFL, ESPN and Vegas clean house.

If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again

Anyone else see that crazy new penalty called on the New England Patriots in overtime last Sunday against the New York Jets? Being a contrarian type bettor I went against the public and took the home dog Jets so this outcome was in my favor but still find it odd how the referee's control game after game.

According to one site the Patriots had the most lopsided betting action on them for the whole NFL week with over 70% of the action coming in on them at -3.5 and the percentage even higher for moneyline bettors. Anytime I see these high percentages I usually go opposite or stay away from that game altogether. Seeing this crazy line and percentage I had a feeling I might see a strange outcome. I honestly believe this was a game that was predetermined for the Jets to cover.

Late in the fourth quarter, down three, the Patriots charged down the field and tied up the game with a field goal. Down to the Jets 26 yard line and then Brady throws three straight incomplete passes. I understand his receivers are new but I believe they easily could have scored a touchdown instead of this field goal especially the way they drove down field so efficiently. I think the manipulation was started here. If the Patriots scored a touchdown they would have gone up by 4 which would covered the spread and not given the Jets much time to drive back down field. I was kind of expecting a missed field goal but they didn't and the game went to overtime. The Patriots did nothing with their first drive but the Jets certainly did with the call of a new penalty, an overtime victory and more importantly they won outright and covered the all important spread. After Nick Folk of the Jets missed a 56 yard field goal a strange new penalty was called which gave the Jets a new set of downs and a shorter field goal made on the next attempt by Folk to win the game 30-27. Unsportsmanlike conduct was called on New England defensive tackle Chris Jones but this was actually part of a new rule. Rule 9-1-3 says, "Team B players cannot push teammates on the line of scrimmage into the offensive formation." Coach Belichick of the Patriots went ballistic and sports new sources around the country were looking for explanations as well. Click here for the best explanation but in my opinion this was just another manipulated game that should have ended earlier. Thanks to the referees the team that is supposed to win will eventually get there even if they have to try, try again. Controversial as sports sources call it or was it just plain fixed?

Ray Lewis & Terrell Suggs Say Blackout was Conspiracy Against Ravens

The power outage of Super Bowl XLVII has been making news again but this time from Baltimore Ravens players Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs.

Last month Ray Lewis told NFL Films' that he believes the lights went out as a conspiracy against the Ravens according to Nate Davis of USA Today. Lewis also said, "I'm not gonna accuse nobody of nothing because I don't know know facts. But you're a zillion dollar company, and your lights go out? No. No way. But you cannot tell me somebody wasn't sitting there and when they say, 'The Ravens are about to blow them out. Man, we better do something.' That's a huge shift in any game, in all seriousness. And as you see how huge it was because it let them right back in the game."

Earlier this week Terrell Suggs went even further to say Commission Roger Goodell was behind this. Suggs told ESPN, "I was like Vegas, parlor tricks, you know what I mean? I was like, ahh, Roger Goodell, he never stops, he always has something up his sleeve. He just couldn't let us have this one in a landslide, huh? I thought he had a hand in it. Most definitely, he had a hand in it."

To revisit what happen, the Baltimore Ravens were leading 28-6 early in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII when the power outage occurred. Once the power and game resumed the San Francisco 49ers then rattled off 17 points but Baltimore ultimately ended up winning 34-31 after a late drive by the 49ers failed. Just to note the Ravens were 4.5 dogs the total was 47.5 so the outcome of the sides would not have changed unless San Francisco put up two additional scores. Regardless, any time stoppage can change momentum in a team for the better or worse and you have to wonder how could this happen during the biggest game of the year? Did Roger Goodell have some hand in this to keep the game interesting by having a close finish? Pretty damning stories when two top players are making these accusations.

Taking a Dive in the NFL

Although we already know NFL teams and their players do this, a couple of weeks ago former Chicago Bears player Brian Urlacher admitted that NFL defenses including the Bears would occasionally fake injuries to slow fast-paced offenses. Shortly after this admission the NFL sent a reminder notice to all 32 teams to remind them that faking injuries can warrant disciplinary action. I think the NFL and its fans will now be scrutinizing injured players a little more than before. Momentum in sports can change in the blink of an eye and may ultimately change the course of game.

NFL Linebacker Larry Grant Suspened Four Games for PED Use

Unrestriced free agent linebacker Larry Grant was recently suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating NFL policies on performance-enhancing drugs. If signed by a new team he can participate in off season practices and preseason games. Teams will still need someone to fill his void for four games so may pass on him with other veterans or newly drafter players. Bad timing for Mr. Grant and shows you why you shouldn't bother with these things in the first place.

Did Bill Callahan Throw Super Bowl XXXVII?

Former Oakland Raiders players Tim Brown and Jerry Rice say coach Bill Callahan threw the Super Bowl game in 2003 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which they lost 48-21. They claim Callahan disliked his team and players and was content to let his old boss, then-Bucs coach John Gruden, beat him. Callahan surprised players by changing the offensive game plan just three days before the Super Bowl which is just unheard of at this level. In previous seasons players did not support or trust Callahan. Callahan has since denied these allegations and outraged by them. Not very often you hear players accuse coaches of sabotage so hopefully this is further investigated and exposed if true.

NFL and the Replacements

If you follow American football then you know the first three weeks of the NFL season have been marred by horrible officiating by replacement referees. The most controversial call would have to be this past Monday nights touchdown by the Seattle Seahawks to end the game victorious 14-12 over the Green Bay Packers. Just to note, the Packers were a three point chalk and according to one website had 70% of bettors on their side. Time and time again when bettors are that lopsided funny things tend to happen come game time. One sports book estimated that $250 Million worldwide flipped from one side to the other on this play. Look closely at the offensive pass interference, which player has control of the ball, the two referee's different calls and you be the judge. Was is fixed?

Saints Eavesdropping Scandal

A few weeks ago it was alleged that New Orleans Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis had in-game audio of opposing coaches from 2002 to 2004 at the Superdome to eavesdrop. The allegations have been denied but if the FBI investigation proves true it could be a state and federal crime and of course a violation of NFL rules. Records of 9-7, 8-8 and 8-8 during those years don't indicate any type of major turnaround accompanied by such cheating but who knows. You would think knowing the plays ahead of time would create quite the dominant team and ensured more wins. Whether it was used or not, only time will tell how this one plays out.

Gambling Ads and the NFL

The National Fix League (NFL) is at it again. Ok so this isn't necessarily about fixes in sports but something worth mentioning. The NFL always claims to be the most responsible sport and strongest opposed to gambling on its games but just informed its teams this past Thursday they will now allow limited casino and state-licensed gambling advertisements. The ads will be limited to inner concourses and upper bowls of stadiums, local radio broadcasts and game programs. The NFL still claims to maintain a strong opposition to gambling on it's games but then why would they encourage advertising of other forms of gambling then? As always it's always about money, the NFL wants you to gamble so they make more money.

Super Fix Bowl

Well tomorrow is the big day and something I will rant on every year. The Super Bowl, the biggest single betting game of the year! The one game so big that sharps can't even move the line because of the amount of action on it. I have read that some believe this could be the highest bet game beating the $94 million on Super Bowl XL which of course doesn't include offshore books and your local bookies. My yearly statistic, the Las Vegas sports books have only lost minimal amounts in two of the last twenty one Super Bowl's. One interesting thing to note though is the last loss came in 2008 when the Giants upset the Patriots, the same two teams playing this year. If it's not fixed with that amount of action, how is that possible?

Saints Whistle Blowing to Victory

The Tennessee Titans accused the New Orleans Saints of blowing a whistle on the sideline during a critical drive in the game between the two teams on December 11th according to Yardbarker.  The Titans claim to have video evidence along with multiple offensive lineman who can attest to the whistle blowing.  Titans players were confused by the distraction upon hearing the whistle as Saints players did not stop.  This was believed to have occurred during the second to last drive in which the Titans were trying to rally from behind but ultimately lost 22-17.  A field goal would have change the outcome for bettors on the spread which had the Saints favored by 3.5 and a touchdown would have change the spread and moneyline outcomes.

Phantom Call

Alright this one angered me because I got the short end of the stick this time.  Did anyone else see the Chicago Bears 89-yard TD trick return nullified by a phantom call last weekend?  The Bears were a 4 point home dog to the Packers and the total was set at 45.5. With about a minute left and the Bears trailing 27-17 the Bears pulled off a sweet fake from Devin Hester but was actually fielded on the other side of the field and ran back for a TD by Johnny Knox. Regardless of the extra point it would have pushed the total over and with the extra point the spread in favor of the Bears.  The trick play the Bears had been practicing worked like a charm but of course it was too good to be true for Vegas and the National Fix League (NFL).  Don't get me wrong I love the NFL, it's my gambling specialty so I don't go calling fix every time I lose but this one was obvious.  The referee initially called holding on number 29.  Well that's weird, the Bears don't even have a player with number 29.  To cover his tracks he then calls it on number 21 Corey Graham who was about 35 yards away from the play and had no direct impact on the run back, nor was it a hold.  Not only did Bears and over bettors suffer, the fans did too in what was once of the best trick plays in a long time even mentioned by opposing quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Playboy Explores the National Fix League (NFL)

Matthew Kredell of Playboy recently explored the world of gambling and the NFL or what some of us like to call the National Fix League. He explores both sides of the table, those who want NFL gambling legalized and those who don't (the NFL). The NFL claims they don't want their games legalized for betting because they maintain integrity and fear this would lead to corruption. They also claim in their history not one game has been fixed. Those are both complete laughers to me. They also mention something I have read quite a few times that they have contacts at the Vegas sports books so they can be notified of irregular betting patterns or possible corruption. I laugh at this too. I think these contacts feed them the information on where the money is so they can manipulate the outcomes of these games. NFL and casino owners have so much power and money they don't want to share it. Do you think these bigwigs would let that kind of money be left to chance? NFL teams and casinos should not have any communication what so ever if they want integrity. If NFL gambling were legalized they can't control all the winnings they rake in every year. Talk about greed! If it was legalized state deficits could be reduced, jobs would be created and the teams themselves could make more money than ever. Although this article is not too detailed it does bring up some good points. Check out this article and worse case scenario you have some Playboy bunnies to check out so you really can't go wrong.

More NFL High Jinx

Just an observation of last Monday night's football game between the Colts and Titans here.  I see it every week but since this game was the only one on the board it probably stuck out more.  Both teams hurting but a Manning led Colts team desperately needing the win only favored by 3 to 4.5 depending on where you got it.  With a 21-7 lead at halftime against a Kerry Collins led Titans offense that cannot score most bettors thought this was in the bag.  Remember the last two games the Titans only put up 6 total points.  So how in the world did the Titans almost come back and score 21 second half points and back door the spread with a 30-28 final score?  Vegas my friends!  Before this game started I checked two of my sources and found 85% and 81% of bettors backing the Colts on the spread.  Rarely is it that lopsided and anytime I see percentages that high I either lay off that game or bet against the public.  What else can explain an anemic offense to rumble back in the second half like that?  Let alone get penalties and interceptions called back in their favor just to get that last touchdown with no time left.  It didn't matter in the standings, it only mattered in Vegas and once again they made a killing on this game.  I will disclose that I took the Titans on the spread and won but I also lost by taking the under.  Before the game I spoke with one of my fellow gamblers and laughed at the predictable fix about to happen.

Denver Broncos Illegally Taped 49ers Practice

The Denver Broncos and head coach Josh McDaniels were both fined $50,000 for illegally taping the San Francisco 49ers practice before a game between the two in London a few weeks ago.  The Broncos video operations employee has since been fired but someone must have initiated this request in the first place.  It did not have any outcome on the game as the 49ers won straight up 24-16 and covered the two point spread.  Regardless of the outcome it just shows more shadiness surrounding the NFL.

Head Official Admits to Blown Calls During Super Bowl XL

If your like me you still remember those crappy calls from Super Bowl XL that ended in a 21-10 Steelers victory over the Seahawks.  I vividly remember getting screwed on the spread which I believe was +7 for the Seahawks and me.  The imaginary holding call on a 98-yard touchdown drive did us in and the inconclusive Roethlisberger touchdown didn't help.  Many including myself yelled at the tv this sh@# is fixed!  Check out the article on head official Bill Leavy admitting his blown calls at Yahoo Sports.

Steroids Ok in the NFL?

Steroids are not allowed in the NFL but it sure seems that way.  Defensive rookie of the year Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans was recently suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season by the league after violating its steroid policy.  In addition the Associated Press decided to re-vote for the defensive rookie of the year award and was once again given to Brian Cushing.  Once he was stripped of the award for cheating by taking steroids you would think he would have been left off the ballot on the re-vote.  I think the NFL is sending a bad message here.

Super Bowl 44 Still in Question

Fans are still questioning if Super Bowl 44 was fixed for the New Orleans Saints.  Check out comments from this article at Fanhouse.  For a Quarterback so in control and accurate to throw that game ending pick you have to question it.  Reggie Wayne didn't even come back for it and allowed the pick and Tracy Porter of the Saints knew it was coming his way.  Other receivers were open as well so how did this play break down so badly?

Nevada Casinos Clean House Again

The Vegas Super Bowl domination continues. Nevada casinos took in $82.7 million in bets at 182 sports books for Super Bowl XLIV and came out on top with a net profit of $6.86 million. So over twenty years Nevada casinos have now profited off the Super Bowl an astounding eighteen years!