Suck for luck: Why tanking is more than a hobby in the NFL

The Indianapolis Colts' selection of Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft went down a dramatic route. It is notable because the Colts are believed to have worked their way to the No.1 draft spot through a practice that is considered uncommon in the NFL -- tanking.

Tanking is a relatively common phenomenon in the NBA as it occurs almost every year. It is the practice of deliberately losing games in order to gain an advantageous draft pick. It is to be noted that tanking (in the legal sense) is different from match-fixing.

The 2011 season, however, saw a number of fanbases in the NFL openly express their desire for their favorite team to lose as many games as possible in order to secure Stanford Cardinals quarterback Andrew Luck as the top pick in the upcoming draft.

The “Suck for Luck” campaign

Fans with the "suck for luck" poster

At the start of the season, fans of many struggling NFL teams began joking online about the possibility of their team losing enough games to secure the top pick in the draft and select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who is considered a generational talent.

This humorous campaign, dubbed "Suck for Luck," provided some consolation for fans of teams that were not performing well. However, after seven weeks of football, only three teams remained as potential suitors for Andrew Luck -- the Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, and Miami Dolphins.

Many football experts considered Andrew Luck to be the best NFL prospect since Peyton Manning, and some argued that he may have even been the best since John Elway. With his exceptional talent and potential to be a franchise quarterback, it was understandable why fans wanted him at all costs.

After losing Peyton Manning to a neck injury, the Indianapolis Colts ultimately won the so-called "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes by finishing the season with a 2-14 record. This secured the top pick in the draft for them and the opportunity to select Stanford star Andrew Luck. However, this scenario created a never-ending controversy in the NFL.

NFL's position on tanking

While tanking is not technically illegal in the NFL, it goes against the spirit of fair competition and is generally frowned upon by the league. Intentionally losing games is generally considered unacceptable and unethical behavior within the league.

However, the process employed by the NFL to establish the draft sequence provides a distinct motivation for teams to intentionally lose. This incentive typically comes into play when a team is no longer capable of making the playoffs, either mathematically or practically.

While the NFL does not officially condone tanking, the current draft order system can inadvertently encourage this type of behavior. It is a delicate balance for the league to strike between creating a fair system for assigning draft picks and preventing teams from intentionally losing games in order to manipulate the system.