On the journey from a league with a portion of its founders having at least one foot in the gaming industry, to the "No Fun League" of the 90s and 2000s, to today's Draft Kings-crazed juggernaut, the NFL periodically would address the subject of gambling on the part of its employees, primarily the players. The message: F around with just about any sort of gambling, and find out what the consequences will be, and know it won't be great.
A couple of the highest-profile victims of this policy were Paul Hornung and Alex Karras. Hornung was the "Golden Boy," Heisman winner at Notre Dame, All-Pro halfback and kicker for most of the classic Vince Lombardi-led Green Bay Packers teams of the 1960s. In 1960, Hornung scored 176 points in a single 12-game season, a record which stood until 2006.
Less glamorous, but almost as accomplished, Karras was an All-Pro defensive tackle for Detroit Lions. Both players were found to have gambled and associated with gamblers, and were suspended for the entire 1963 season.
Both players returned to the league and eventually became members of the Hall of Fame. They also had long half-lives in the post-pro sports entertainment stratosphere, announcing, commercials, acting. Still, they did the "crime" and they did the time, a fate that might be best expressed by Karras's best-known character, post-football:
Now the picks, generated via the proprietary Spreadbuster algorithm:
Three-Star Picks
LAR (1) vs. MIA: Resurgence will continue.
AZ (pick) vs. NYJ: Unusual desert matchup.
TB (+6) vs. SF: Must-win for Bucs.
Last week: 1-3. Overall: 16-13.
Two-Star Picks
Last week: 3-2. Overall: 15-22.
One-Star Picks
These games are anyone's guess.
Last week: 3-3. Overall: 26-26-1.
Total - Last week: 7-8. Overall: 58-62-1.
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