Arthur Smith doesn’t seem to understand the problem with concealing Bijan Robinson’s illness

Falcons coach Arthur Smith doesn’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation surrounding running back Bijan Robinson’s concealed illness on Sunday.

Smith’s response on Wednesday was dismissive and uninterested. As previously mentioned, Smith downplayed the issue and referred to the league’s investigation as “sensationalized.”

“I understand that outrage and drama sell,” Smith stated. “But if you truly comprehend how things operate, there is absolutely nothing there. So I haven’t wasted a single thought on it.”

Ironically, Smith did spend at least a second pondering it, as he delved into the implications of teams being required to disclose player workload.

“Teams have to prepare for all three of our running backs, right?” Smith questioned. “It’s about who has the hot hand. Maybe I’ll have to inform Titans coach Mike Vrabel, ‘Hey, Allegier is on fire. I’ll give him fifteen carries.’ Perhaps that’s what I need to do, if that’s where we’re headed. Just make sure I don’t upset anybody and their fantasy team. So maybe I’ll shout over to Vrabel, ‘Hey, we’re gonna give Cordarrelle Patterson another carry here.’

This goes beyond coaching decisions made with a full roster of healthy players. It involves concealing crucial information that could impact one’s assessment of a player’s workload.

The NFL frequently emphasizes the importance of upholding “the integrity of the game.” However, the league must also consider the integrity of bets placed on the game. Keeping an illness hidden from a key player in fantasy football for money, daily fantasy games for money, and various legal prop bets for money undermines the integrity of those wagers.

Imagine being at a craps table, knowing that certain numbers are significantly less likely to appear due to a defect in the dice. You would undoubtedly factor that into your betting decisions. Likewise, players who wager their hard-earned money on fantasy football or prop bets need to know whether a player like Bijan Robinson might be performing below par due to an altered workload.

That’s precisely why Robinson only had one touch. It wasn’t a matter of someone naturally getting hot; it was Smith and the Falcons concealing Robinson’s illness.

As we’ve reiterated all week, there is an incentive for teams to keep such matters under wraps. Therefore, the NFL needs to establish a deterrent that outweighs the urge to hide such issues, particularly since the league is heavily reliant on the gambling industry.