If the first sign of compulsive gambling is betting the NFL preseason, risking money on this Sunday’s meaningless match-ups can’t be far behind on the “you might have a problem” scale.
Most of Week 17 features games involving playoff-bound teams resting their starters (Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys), deposed coaches (Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars) or “dead man walking ones” (New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers).
Plus, potential free agents secretly hope they’re healthy scratches since the risk of injury far outweighs any chances their performance on Sunday earns them a big off-season payday.
Memo to Cleveland Browns fans: Do not bet either side on Sunday.