Bill Bur doesn’t think the NFL is “fixed,” per se.
He just doesn’t think everything is on the up and up.
Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show earlier this week, the popular comedian added to the narrative that the Kansas City Chiefs’ ongoing dynasty has been aided by the league. Asked for his Super Bowl prediction, Burr stated that the Philadelphia Eagles would have to secure a 30-point lead to win the game, before seemingly sideswiping Nate Burleson’s postgame rant regarding Chiefs fatigue.
“It’s just football at the highest level and if you’re not appreciating what’s going on, then there’s something wrong with you,” Burr said sarcastically.
The Paper Tiger star wasn’t done there.
“It’s a show, OK? They’re all shows at this point,” he continued. “Let’s be honest. There’s always been point-shaving, mob, gambling — all sports have always been like that. But I think we’re going into an unprecedented time of that with all sports or whatever. I’m not singling them out.”
Asked by Eisen if he was implying the Chiefs aren’t actually as good as people believe them to be, Burr replied, “It’s a business… I don’t think it’s fixed. I think it’s massaged. There’s definitely more backrubs on one side than the other.”
Burr recalled his initial belief that the NBA was fixed in the 2000s — an idea he believes was validated by the Tim Donaghy scandal. To Burr, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And at this point, the NFL might want to make sure it knows where its extinguishers are.
After an admittedly hilarious rant about officiating, Burr went on to question why the NFL considers itself an “entertainment league” as opposed to a “sports league” with the implication being obvious. Eisen then accused Burr of having “Chiefs fatigue,” with the comedian responding by taking a jab at the host’s cozy relationship with the league he occasionally calls games for.
“OK, you’re a company man. I get it,” Burr replied. “Rich Eisen in the green room is not Rich Eisen behind this desk… you want me to say what you’re not going to say. That’s what you’re doing to me… you’re wholesome, I get it.”
“You say this to me every time you’re here,” Eisen said, fighting through laughter.
Burr ended the segment by admitting that he’s a “confused old man” who doesn’t actually watch many Chiefs games anymore.
“Don’t listen to me. Everything’s on the up and up,” he said.
While most — if not all — of the segment was performed in a comedic manner, Burr’s rantings only add to the narrative that Kansas City’s dynasty has been less than pure. And fair or not, that’s already emerged as one of the primary storylines heading into Super Bowl LIX, despite Burleson’s efforts to cut it off after the AFC title game.