Fans Bet Their Bar Tabs on the Jets Losing. It Wasn’t a Safe Bet.

No matter how good a wager could sound, bear in mind: The home at all times wins.

Many patrons at Jack’s American Pub in Milwaukee thought the percentages had been of their favor on Monday night time, when the bar was providing a particular that appeared too good to go up. The wager was easy: If the New York Jets misplaced on Monday towards the Buffalo Bills, the pub would pay their tab. The promotion was an opportunity for Wisconsin soccer followers to root towards quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who performed his complete profession with the Green Bay Packers earlier than being traded this yr to the Jets.

And when Rodgers, who had been considered a savior for the Jets, left the sport with what gave the impression to be an ankle harm early within the first quarter of the sport, the percentages of a Jets loss appeared promising.

Scott Schaefer, the pub’s proprietor, mentioned on Tuesday that because the probabilities of the Jets shedding appeared more and more favorable, patrons began operating up their tabs extra confidently.

“They weren’t ecstatic that he got hurt,” Schaefer mentioned. “They were more thinking with their wallets.”

By halftime, the Bills had been up 13-3, and it was clear that Rodgers wouldn’t be returning that night time.

“I’d say for 80 percent of the game they thought they’d won, and they were drinking as if they’d won,” Schaefer mentioned. “Hundred-dollar tabs were very common.”

But then the tide turned. The Jets scored a discipline aim within the third quarter, and within the fourth quarter, they tied the sport to drive it into extra time.

With a landing in extra time, the Jets accomplished a comeback that many thought was unbelievable with out Rodgers. The last rating was Jets 22, Bills 16.

For many at Jack’s American Pub, it was time to pay up.

“People were quiet,” Schaefer mentioned.

Knowing {that a} Jets win was attainable on Monday, Schaefer mentioned he and his workers had been frightened that some patrons could be upset and refuse to pay. Customers taking part within the deal needed to hand over a bank card and got wristbands, Schaefer mentioned.

“But what we realized when it came to the end, everyone just respected the result,” he mentioned. “There were no problems.”

The deal poked enjoyable at Rodgers, who captivated followers throughout Wisconsin throughout his 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, which he led to a Super Bowl win in 2011 towards the Pittsburgh Steelers, together with common playoff appearances.

But his time with the Packers ended on a bitter word, after Rodgers grew annoyed with the workforce’s route,and reportedly requested to be traded from the workforce.

“We didn’t know the last few years if he was coming or going,” Schaefer mentioned.

Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April, which prompted Schaefer to provide you with the concept for promotion.

“I think some people in Wisconsin are not his biggest fan for how he left, so they wanted to root against him,” Schaefer mentioned.

The provide got here with a number of caveats. To take part, patrons wanted to begin a tab quarter-hour earlier than the Jets recreation, Rodgers wanted to begin the sport, and patrons needed to watch the sport on the bar from begin to end, which meant committing to about three hours. The deal additionally didn’t embrace meals, and top-shelf liquor was excluded.

The Jets introduced on Tuesday that Rodgers had torn his left Achilles’ tendon on Monday and that he’ll miss the remainder of the season. Without any Rodgers begins the remainder of the yr, Schaefer mentioned he and his workers had been working to provide you with new concepts to retool the promotion for the pub, which had its 10-year anniversary in August.

“We just want to remake the atmosphere,” he mentioned. “It was so much fun last night.”