‘I’m So Scared’: NFL Players on How Betting Changes the Sport

NFL players are grappling with a complex new reality. They’re aware of the money being bet on every catch, run and touchdown and generally think it’s good for the league’s (and thus their own) financial health. But they’re also—if you can say this about a professional football player—scared on a personal level and generally freaked out about running afoul of league rules. “It has struck fear into me,” says Miami Dolphins wide receiver River Cracraft. (A spokesman for the NFL says it’s “working tirelessly to ensure that the integrity of our game is preserved, our players, coaches and staff are educated on our gambling policy, and that our fans are protected.”)

In early August, Bloomberg Businessweek talked with a handful of current and former players, including some, like Cracraft, who are part of the Pro Athlete Community, an organization that helps athletes pursue new careers after they’re done playing. Here are edited excerpts from those conversations.