Several NFL players participated in an arm wrestling competition at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas over the weekend, and they will reportedly be fined over it.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the active NFL players who took part in the event violated the league’s gambling policy.
The current players who participated in the arm wrestling event at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino violated @NFL policy & will be fined, per source
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 10, 2017
The Pro Football Arm Wrestling Championship is said to have featured more than 30 current NFL players, including James Harrison, NaVorro Bowman, Marquette King and Kenny Stills. Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch, who could be coming out of retirement this offseason, was also present.
NFL rules prohibit active players from making promotional appearances at casinos or gambling venues, which league vice president of communications Joe Lockhart says players would have been reminded of if they checked first.
“Had we been asked in advance if this was acceptable, we would have indicated that it was in direct violation of the gambling policy,” Lockhart told Jarrett Bell of USA Today Sports. “No one sought pre-approval.”
If you remember, the NFL blocked Tony Romo from hosting a fantasy football event in Vegas a couple of years back, and the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback sounded off on the league over it. With the Oakland Raiders soon relocating to Sin City, this is exactly the type of thing that is going to need to be addressed by the league.
