Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson arrested for DUI, per police
Las Vegas, NV, is the center of the NFL world as it prepares to host Super Bowl LVIII. Unfortunately, there is some NFL news involving a player from the host city’s home team, the Raiders, that just broke. According to TMZ Sports, Las Vegas defensive lineman Janarius Robinson was arrested Tuesday morning.
Robinson was booked on DUI charges after he was stopped on the Las Vegas Strip just before 6:00 AM on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old pass rusher who spent his collegiate career playing for the Florida State Seminoles did not initially begin his NFL tenure with the Raiders. Robinson was originally a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 NFL Draft.
This news comes after a positive end to the 2023-2024 season for Robinson. The Raiders decided to promote the former Seminole to the team’s 53-man roster from their practice squad for the final six games of the season. In those six games, Robinson started in two while recording 8 total tackles, five solo, two hits on the quarterback, and one sack, which came in the Raiders’ 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
It is unclear how Las Vegas and the NFL intend to handle this situation. In prior instances of players getting charged and convicted of DUI, the NFL has levied suspensions and fines. In terms of the Raiders, when it comes to a similar situation, they were quick to move, releasing safety Roderic Teamer back in November, just two days after he was arrested for a DUI. It is worth noting that Teamer’s arrest was reportedly for driving under the influence of marijuana.
Football feels ‘less pure’ for Tony Romo with gambling influence
Around the Super Bowl, gambling has always been a popular point of conversation. But throughout the past few years, it’s become more common throughout the regular season. Advertisements are constantly shown during the games and some people watch the NFL solely due to their bets.
In the past, few broadcasters have acknowledged gambling. Al Michaels is the most famous for it but always did so in a subtle way. He will never directly mention the lines of point total but does acknowledge all the gamblers out there when applicable.
Not everybody is comfortable with the idea though, with CBS’ Tony Romo more focused on the outcome of the game than one team covering a spread or a point total going over.
Romo believes football has lost some purity due to gambling becoming such a big aspect of the sport.
“To me, it’s like a slippery slope,” Romo said via The Athletic. “I grew up where we never talked about or thought about lines or anything like that in football. The angle that I try to communicate to the audience is how to win this game for this team, or not to lose it in some cases.
“But once you start going into that world, it strikes me as you’ve got to be great at two things. Now you’re affecting people’s lives with what you’re saying in some way. It just makes it feel less pure and less like the stuff that you grew up on.”
Romo will be calling this year’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers which will be played in… Las Vegas.