ALinChainz
07-01-2004, 06:48 PM
July 1, 2004
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- NFL officials will talk with Steelers running back Jerome Bettis to determine whether he has violated league rules by being involved in a proposed real estate development that could include slot machines.
Bettis, the sixth-leading rusher in NFL history, was in Harrisburg this week to speak with lawmakers about minority interests in proposed gambling legislation.
The 32-year-old running back appeared with C.J. Betters, a developer who has proposed a $500 million facility that could include a horse track, hotel, townhouses, retail stores and slot machines, if the state passes legislation legalizing slots.
The NFL policy on gambling prohibits players from advertising or promoting activities ``that can reasonably be perceived as constituting affiliation with or endorsement of gambling.''
Jeff Pash, an executive vice president and chief legal officer for the NFL, will speak with Bettis, said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.
``We need to get information not only from Jerome, but we also need to learn more about what the project is,'' McCarthy said. ``We only learned about Jerome's involvement a couple days ago.''
Bettis is heading into his 12th NFL season and needs 907 yards to move into fourth place on the all-time rushing list. His agent, Lamont Smith, didn't immediately return phone calls to The Associated Press on Thursday.
Betters said Bettis' involvement with Pittsburgh Palisades Park, the gambling portion of the project, has been overblown.
``This is a huge project and the Palisades is one of 20 or 30 pieces,'' he said.
Betters wouldn't comment on his relationship with Bettis or his role in the development. The state Senate is expected to vote soon on whether to legalize as many as 61,000 slot machines in Pennsylvania.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-bettis-gambling&prov=ap&type=lgns
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- NFL officials will talk with Steelers running back Jerome Bettis to determine whether he has violated league rules by being involved in a proposed real estate development that could include slot machines.
Bettis, the sixth-leading rusher in NFL history, was in Harrisburg this week to speak with lawmakers about minority interests in proposed gambling legislation.
The 32-year-old running back appeared with C.J. Betters, a developer who has proposed a $500 million facility that could include a horse track, hotel, townhouses, retail stores and slot machines, if the state passes legislation legalizing slots.
The NFL policy on gambling prohibits players from advertising or promoting activities ``that can reasonably be perceived as constituting affiliation with or endorsement of gambling.''
Jeff Pash, an executive vice president and chief legal officer for the NFL, will speak with Bettis, said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.
``We need to get information not only from Jerome, but we also need to learn more about what the project is,'' McCarthy said. ``We only learned about Jerome's involvement a couple days ago.''
Bettis is heading into his 12th NFL season and needs 907 yards to move into fourth place on the all-time rushing list. His agent, Lamont Smith, didn't immediately return phone calls to The Associated Press on Thursday.
Betters said Bettis' involvement with Pittsburgh Palisades Park, the gambling portion of the project, has been overblown.
``This is a huge project and the Palisades is one of 20 or 30 pieces,'' he said.
Betters wouldn't comment on his relationship with Bettis or his role in the development. The state Senate is expected to vote soon on whether to legalize as many as 61,000 slot machines in Pennsylvania.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-bettis-gambling&prov=ap&type=lgns