Dave Portnoy Says He's Suing NFL Over Joe Burrow's Injury Report Controversy
The Cincinnati Bengals suffered a setback during their Nov. 16 match against the Baltimore Ravens when quarterback Joe Burrow had a wrist injury that eventually took him out of the game. The Bengals stirred up controversy after a video was posted and quickly deleted from the team's social media pages showing Burrow on Nov. 15 wearing a brace or some kind of cast on his right hand, prompting questions as to why Burrow wasn't listed on the injury report prior to the game.
The NFL is conducting an investigation into the team to determine why Burrow's injury wasn't disclosed to the league. Still, that hasn't stopped Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy from taking the league and the team on himself, especially since he bet money on the Bengals only for them to lose to the Ravens.
"I'm filing a class action lawsuit against the Bengals and NFL for lying about the injury report," he wrote on social media. "There is no shot I put $100,000 hard earned dollars on the Bengals if I knew Joe Burrow was injured going into the game."
"This committee owes me an apology!" he insisted.
I'm filing a class action lawsuit against the Bengals and NFL for lying about the injury report. There is no shot I put 100k hard earned dollars on the Bengals if I knew Joe Burrow was injured going into the game. This committee owes me an apology!
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 17, 2023
Portnoy was adamant that the NFL should financially compensate everyone who placed bets on the game. "REFUND ALL BETS!!!!!" he stated plainly. "You can't do this in a legalized gambling world. REFUND ALL BETS!!!! JAIL FOR EVERYBODY."
REFUND ALL BETS!!!!! You can't do this in a legalized gambling world. REFUND ALL BETS!!!! JAIL FOR EVERYBODY https://t.co/qEAa6c53UZ
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 17, 2023
News broke on Nov. 17 that Burrow is out for the season due to his wrist injury. Upon learning the development, Portnoy was frank with his response. "I DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION!" he wrote. "REFUND ALL BETS! THE INTEGRITY OF THE NFL AND AMERICA DEPENDS ON IT!"
I DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION! REFUND ALL BETS! THE INTEGRITY OF THE NFL AND AMERICA DEPENDS ON IT! https://t.co/pOo8yrpvky
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 17, 2023
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor claimed that Burrow's injury happened earlier in the game on Nov. 16, so there would have been no reason to include Burrow on the pre-game injury report. He was likely referring to a play when Burrow had his hand jammed into the turf by a Ravens player right before he threw a touchdown.
"It looked like he sprained his wrist," Taylor said in a press conference. "Fell on it early in the game and then felt it on the touchdown pass."
If the NFL finds that the Bengals mishandled the injury report, the team could be fined or docked a draft pick.
"Looks like he sprained his wrist" Zac Taylor on Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/SJ2fVzdUSr
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 17, 2023
Portnoy acknowledged he made the "worst bet ever" by wagering a cool $67,000 for a $1 million payout if the Bengals won the Super Bowl next year. Anything is possible, but with their star QB out for the season, it'll be quite the challenge.