Amid the continuing NFL lockout, pro football has again received some unfavorable attention, this time with the league announcing that it is investigating at least 25 players in connection with an Alabama casino that has recently been shut down.

Terrell Owens, Santana Moss, Santonio Holmes and Adalius Thomas are said to be among the players that have invested in the Country Crossing Casino; a practice their league policy forbids. In addition to those current players, former NFL players Javon Kearse and Cornelius Griffin and boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. who is preparing for a championship fight,  are also investors in the now defunct gambling facility. Mayweather is said to be fighting to regain his $5 million loss in the investment.

In the meantime, the owner of the casino, Ronnie Gilley, and two of his associates have plead guilty to offering millions of dollars in bribes to state legislators.

NFL rules prohibit employees from being involved with any sort of gaming operation. These involved players could face fines and suspensions (as well as losing their investment) depending on the outcome of the investigation.

People in charge of County in which the casino resides are unsure of who the casino’s investors are, but did say there were rumors of professional athletes investing from the beginning.

Whether or not the players are actually in violation of league rules, the situation is sure to add more tension between players and the league. The sides have yet to come to a new collective bargaining agreement and the league has struggled to get good press. Also not helping in the P.R. area is the fact several players have made it into popular Sports Mugshot Galleries during this offseason, most recently Seahawks DE Raheem Brock and Titans WR Kenny Britt.

Because of the ongoing lockout, the players cannot be disciplined right now but Commissioner Roger Goodell will surely be reviewing the case and thinking of punishments for anyone in violation of league rules once a new CBA goes into effect.

Additionally, the players will likely be forced to divest which could result in huge losses, especially with the casino currently closed. With players already facing the possibility of not getting paid in the coming year, these athletes could continue to have financial losses even after the lockout is lifted.

Used with permission of the author.

Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.