Roger Goodell’s NFL Sent Warning Memos To Players and Staff After NBA Faced FBI Arrests

Stephen A. Smith had warned Roger Goodell and the NFL that they could face the wrath of President Donald Trump and his administration.

Roger Goodell’s NFL Sent Warning Memos To Players and Staff After NBA Faced FBI Arrests

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (Image via Bleacher Report/X)

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The sports world was left in tatters when news of the FBI arresting current and former NBA personnel over illegal gambling dominated news headlines. Roger Goodell and the NFL are not part of any investigations at the moment, but they also have ties to gambling.

The NFL, just like the NBA and other sports leagues, has official collaborations with gambling companies. But in this instance, the arrests were the result of an investigation into illegal gambling activities.

ESPN’s First Take was among the first to talk about this situation, and Stephen A. Smith, the show’s host, felt as if this entire fiasco was Donald Trump‘s way of exacting revenge against his naysayers.

He believes the President has always had a tumultuous relationship with the NBA and NFL, and warned that the latter would likely be his next target.

The FBI’s director, Kash Patel, dismissed these claims, reiterating that the arrests were made due to their criminal indulgences. However, Smith reiterated on his podcast that the NFL could face some music in the near future.

There have been instances of players indulging in side bets, but the league has dealt with those players appropriately. However, they still need to ensure league personnel are not indulging or even thinking of indulging in such activities.

The league office sent out memos to all club personnel and players on the ‘need to adhere strictly to the NFL Gambling Policy.’ Those memos insisted on the prohibition on betting on player props, the kind that saw an NBA player lose his career.

NFL and Donald Trump have been at odds

Roger Goodell might be treading on some crucial times right now. He and his team are doing their best to ensure players are informed about the pitfalls of indulging in such illegal activities.

However, it might not mean that the coast is clear. President Donald Trump and the NFL have been at odds for quite some time now. It all started when he wanted to purchase the Buffalo Bills, but could not do so.

He had warned back then that if the league did not allow him to purchase the team, he would run for President. Trump fulfilled his promise and became the country’s top leader not once but twice.

Before he even became President for the 2nd time, the real-estate mogul had expressed his dissatisfaction with the NFL’s changes, particularly the new kickoff rules.

He then tried to block the Washington Commanders’ move back to DC if they did not change their name back to the Redskins. Now, his focus is on Bad Bunny‘s upcoming Super Bowl LX halftime show.

Conversations about ICE agents being present inside Levi’s Stadium during his show have cast a cloud over the future of the event. All of this seems to suggest that the President has a lot of friction with the NFL.

Roger Goodell confirms Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime performance is not being canceled

The Donald Trump administration and right-wing leaning citizens have criticized the NFL’s decision to bring in Bad Bunny to headline their Super Bowl LX halftime show.

NFL confirmed Bad Bunny will headline Super Bowl LX halftime show
NFL confirmed Bad Bunny will headline Super Bowl LX halftime show (Image via Rolling Stone/X)

Amidst all the criticisms, Roger Goodell was asked if he and the league office were planning to make any changes to the halftime show, to which he replied:

He is one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world. That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value, it’s carefully thought through.

Roger Goodell said at the NFL’s annual fall owners meeting

It seems the league is going ahead with its plans even thought they have received mixed responses about Bad Bunny’s selection. The NFL will face competition from far-right group, Turning Point USA.

The organization founded by the slain Charlie Kirk confirmed they will host their own halftime show replete with American Christian groups performing.

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