SEC Network's Booger McFarland has strong opinion on NFL gambling concerns
Booger McFarland isn’t afraid to be in the spotlight.
After becoming a star defensive tackle at LSU, McFarland was a first-round draft pick and won two Super Bowls in the NFL. Now, McFarland is an analyst with the SEC Network, and he’s become quite comfortable expressing his opinion.
On Monday, NFL owners voted 31-1 in favor of allowing the Raiders to move their franchise from Oakland to Las Vegas. Outside of severing the historic ties the franchise had with its home in California, the Raiders’ move to America’s gambling epicenter has some worried about the impact it could have on the league’s morality.
Having an NFL team in Las Vegas, the prostitution/gambling/nightclub capital of America, is a really super idea.
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) March 27, 2017
Can't wait for the first Las Vegas sports gambling scandal. (Haha, just kidding, I mean't the *next* Las Vegas sports gambling scandal).
— Benjamin Wendorf (@BenjaminWendorf) March 27, 2017
Las Vegas Raiders, you can hear the gambling scandals in the name lol
— Akeem (@__ARS1) March 27, 2017
While it’s easy to believe that the ease of access to casinos and gambling temptation might create problems for an NFL franchise in Las Vegas, McFarland sees things in a very different light.
NFL players go to Vegas all the time, living there won't make them gamble more, will probably gamble less due to constant availability
— Booger (@SECbooger) March 27, 2017
we n society like to take the minority and make it the majority to create a problem, Harrahs is n New orleans,dont hear many Saints addicted
— Booger (@SECbooger) March 27, 2017
harrahs is in New orleans, Atlantic city is close to new york any gambling issues w/ teams in vicinity? amazing how we react to things
— Booger (@SECbooger) March 27, 2017
Raiders to Vegas. Character not location determines conduct. However, certain locations challenge character more frequently.
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) March 27, 2017
so new orleans detroit atlantic city dont challenge that character ? i just think we are overreacting to this my man hope ur well bro https://t.co/wLIWRXrhqt
— Booger (@SECbooger) March 27, 2017
McFarland correctly states the vicinity some teams have to casinos, particularly Harrah’s in New Orleans and those in Atlantic City. Having the ability to gamble in a team’s backyard may create some problems, but the Raiders are probably aware of just how closely they will be watched because of this issue.
Besides, these are NFL players. If they want to fly to Las Vegas on their bye week or gamble in another form, they can find a way to do so. As McFarland insinuates, just because something could possibly become a problem, that doesn’t mean it’s going to send a franchise off the rails.