Mortensen: Rodney Harrison to be suspended 4 games for Human Growth Hormone

[signbabybrady]

He says all the right things following doing all the wrong things.

I hope this can go away and not be a huge story for a long time.

Obviously it is big now but I hope it calms down quick regardless of whether you forgive him or not.

Rodney we forgive you.

 

[Kdo5]

Full Statement, per Herald:

Here’s the statement Rodney Harrison just delivered on a conference call. He did not answer questions.

“I’m basically here to let you all know that tomorrow the commissioner will annouce that I’ve been suspended by the NFL for violating the league policy on substance abuse. That suspension will be for four games. I want to make it clear that not once did I use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was totally for the purpose of accelerating the healing process from injuries I sustained playing football.

“I haven’t made excuses, nor will I make excuses. I made a mistake and I’m very sorry for that. I understand that I’m a role model to high schools, colleges, young kids. I don’t condone my decision, my behavior. I’m very, very embarrassed by it. I’m disappointed in myself. And to any young person, any high schooler, any college athlete, I sent the wrong message with my actions and I would want to be the example to them to never jeopardize what they believe in, never jeopardize their health. And they always have to love themselves.

“At this time, because I know you have a million questions for me, this is a mistake that I’ve done, nothing that my teammates were involved in, and I ask at this time that the respect of my teammates not be violated. This is something that Rodney Harrison did, Rodney Harrison did alone. My teammates didn’t do it. So as they’re preparing for the Jets and the San Diego game and Cincinnati and those games after that, I would ask that you give them the respect not to badger them with questions. Because they don’t have any information dealing with it, and neither does my family. I have kids, I have a wife and I’d ask for the respect for my family. This is something that I did and they shouldn’t have to go through.

“I will be absent from the team for the next four weeks, that’s the penalty I have incur, after which I intend to return and help this team in any capacity I can to get back to winning the championship. It’s been a tough time for me, the last week or two, even before this. I’ve apologized to my family, which has supported me, to my friends. And I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my teammates. Like I said before, they were never involved in this. This is something I did and I apologize to them, because this is the last thing we need going into the regular season. I should have never done this to them.

“I apologize to the entire New England Patriots organization and the fans that have supported me so faithfully over the past five seasons here. Through Super Bowls, through injury, they have supported me, I definitely, definitely appreciate it.”

I respect the man for saying that and when he comes back he is going to have a hell of a lot of motivation to redeem himself.

Go Pats! :rocker:

I must say that reading this made me feel 10x better and I respect him a lot for admitting to it and not making this an ongoing issue. The apology was sincere.

 

[SmokeShowin]

I'm not defending him either, but let's not say he cheated until you know he took it.

One question though...all the stories seem kind of vague, "admitted to federal prosecutors that he obtained HGH." It doesn't say when he obtained it. He very well could have obtained it earlier in his career. Again, I'm not trying to defend him, as I am very pissed about this, but I am withholding judgment until I know exactly what happened.

I was going to say the same thing. The investigation has been going on for 2 years by the feds, who knows when he did it. I don't condone the fact that he did it, but he admitted it, will serve his penalty and continue to kick @ss! Go Pats!

 

[AirForcePatFan]

Ok... I feel better...If you make a mistake, own up to it.. He did, I respect that.. Let's move on... We have the Jets to play... C-ya Week 5, Rodney..

 

[NEPat]

The time for hysteria is NOW. If we wait, we may calm down and not go beserk. At least we aren't talking about cutting Randy Moss.

Too funny. Not to worry, more Randy Moss threads tomorrow!

Anyway, good statement by Rodney. I've mentioned it before, but I hate the huge pressure on these guys to come back quickly from injuries (from teams, from fans). No excuses though, it's just too bad.

See you in four games Rodney.

 

[SmokeShowin]

I respect the man for saying that and when he comes back he is going to have a hell of a lot of motivation to redeem himself.

Go Pats! :rocker:

I must say that reading this made me feel 10x better and I respect him a lot for admitting to it and not making this an ongoing issue. The apology was sincere.

Ditto.

Like he said. He DID NOT use steroids. HGH isn't a steroid, it is however a banned substance.

Hang tough Hot Rod and come back better than before.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: From the globe

Thanks for posting that. I heard part of the statement but didn't see the entire text until now.

Rodney made an error in judgment and will pay the price for it. He stood up like a man and admitted his mistake and apologized.

I'm sure that the real fans will accept that and move on. The fair weather fans and bandwagon fans will whine and and call for his head as they have been doing on this thread.

I have an idea!
Couldn't we just do one kinda big carbon offset type a thing and suspend NUT instead for 4 weeks in Rodney's place?

 

[marty]

Full Statement, per Herald:

Here’s the statement Rodney Harrison just delivered on a conference call. He did not answer questions.

“I’m basically here to let you all know that tomorrow the commissioner will annouce that I’ve been suspended by the NFL for violating the league policy on substance abuse. That suspension will be for four games. I want to make it clear that not once did I use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was totally for the purpose of accelerating the healing process from injuries I sustained playing football.

“I haven’t made excuses, nor will I make excuses. I made a mistake and I’m very sorry for that. I understand that I’m a role model to high schools, colleges, young kids. I don’t condone my decision, my behavior. I’m very, very embarrassed by it. I’m disappointed in myself. And to any young person, any high schooler, any college athlete, I sent the wrong message with my actions and I would want to be the example to them to never jeopardize what they believe in, never jeopardize their health. And they always have to love themselves.

“At this time, because I know you have a million questions for me, this is a mistake that I’ve done, nothing that my teammates were involved in, and I ask at this time that the respect of my teammates not be violated. This is something that Rodney Harrison did, Rodney Harrison did alone. My teammates didn’t do it. So as they’re preparing for the Jets and the San Diego game and Cincinnati and those games after that, I would ask that you give them the respect not to badger them with questions. Because they don’t have any information dealing with it, and neither does my family. I have kids, I have a wife and I’d ask for the respect for my family. This is something that I did and they shouldn’t have to go through.

“I will be absent from the team for the next four weeks, that’s the penalty I have incur, after which I intend to return and help this team in any capacity I can to get back to winning the championship. It’s been a tough time for me, the last week or two, even before this. I’ve apologized to my family, which has supported me, to my friends. And I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my teammates. Like I said before, they were never involved in this. This is something I did and I apologize to them, because this is the last thing we need going into the regular season. I should have never done this to them.

“I apologize to the entire New England Patriots organization and the fans that have supported me so faithfully over the past five seasons here. Through Super Bowls, through injury, they have supported me, I definitely, definitely appreciate it.”

Sincere, heartfelt, no excuses, way to show how it's done! I'm disappointed that Rodney made this mistake, but I continue to support and admire him.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

I bet a ton of players use HGH to recover from injuries.

Bingo. And that's what it's primarily used for... for recovery. It's not a performance enhancer, it doesn't make you hyooooge like steriods, it's primarily used for speeding healing and recovery. And since it's a natural substance found in the body, and one which metabolizes very quickly, there's almost no way to test for it short of a blood draw VERY shortly after the HGH injection. Wait a day, and it's undetectable in conventional blood tests. Actually, wait an hour and it's gone.

Yeah...ever heard of David Boston? He was getting HUGE on the stuff...among other things.

He was getting HUGE on anabolic androgenic steroids. I don't doubt he took HGH too, but that's more for being able to walk the next day after pounding your legs to $h*t after a steroid fueled workout, and getting your body twisted, crushed, and maimed on the practice field.

I am going to be upset, VERY upset if he gets the black ball treatment while Merriman gets carte blanche as an up-and-coming superstar in the league. Everybody was very quick to forget about his use of steroids, but I have a feeling this is going to hang around Rodney's neck for a while.

I think you're right. The world loves a bad guy, and Rodney is a very easy target. I have no doubt, we'll hear him called "Roid-Boy" and crap like that for the rest of his career. And that's a real shame.

Especially since Merriman used an actual performance enhancing anabolic (Nandrolone in his case) which is many times more anabolic than testosterone.

He looks like a roider.

Oh stop it, he does not because he isn't. HGH is not an anabolic steroid.

Sadly, I think almost every player in the NFL uses HGH.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least. It's easy to get, nearly impossible to detect, is an all natural substance that your body makes, needs, and uses efficiently, with almost no negative side effects when used properly and not abused, and makes an incredible difference in healing and recovery.

See, this is why I have a hard time coming down on Rodney. Steroids, I could agree with all you new Rodney-haters.. but I can't hang the man for something that I would damn sure do myself. The only thing I can fault him for is telling the truth... shoulda lied like the rest of the league does.

EDIT: Now that Rodney's statement has been posted, hell, my entire post is useless.

 

[Slagathor]

I won't pull any punches.

RODNEY HEALED UP REAL NICE!!! THANK YOU HGH!!!

Pats are Super Bowl bound.

Shame on anyone who poo poo's this post when most of you were thinking the same thing.

 

[Kdo5]

I can't imagine how much Rodney will want to redeem himself when he gets back. Its going to be great!

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Who cares what the everyone else thinks when HIS fans are the ones who are turning on him...we haven't even heard an official statement and people are abandoning Rodney faster than rats off a sinking ship!

Since you quote me, I take it you are labeling me as one of those rats. If I am right, my response: don't jump to conclusions. If I am incorrect: most fans are venting their disappoinment/frustuation on one of their most favourite players. A very few look to have dumped him but that doesn't mean anyone who vents his/her feelings has dumped him.

 

[javajunky]

Damn, those first four games are gonna hurt...Jets, Chargers, and Bengals.

Appeal Rodney, appeal...until Cleveland.

Sigh...

 

[amazinPats]

Damn, those first four games are gonna hurt...Jets, Chargers, and Bengals.

Appeal Rodney, appeal...until Cleveland.

Sigh...

To appeal would go against Rodney's nature. He admitted to taking HGH to help his healing process. How could he appeal?

 

[brady199]

Ok... I feel better...If you make a mistake, own up to it.. He did, I respect that.. Let's move on... We have the Jets to play... C-ya Week 5, Rodney..

Who said it was a mistake, if he didn't use it, maybe he wouldn't be fully recovered by week 5, and at least he'll be a bit fresher for the finish of the regular season. This isn't a bad thing, maybe Meriweather gets some more experience and that helps us later on down the line this year.

I'm not worried a bit.

 

[Patjew]

I'm just still shocked that Rodney, of all people, did this. He's the last person I would have expected this from.

 

[Bill's Girl]

Re: From the globe

August 31, 2007
Harrison confirms suspension
By Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff

Rodney Harrison just held a conference call with the media and confirmed that tomorrow the NFL will announce he has been suspended for four games for violating the league's policy on banned substances. Here is Harrison's opening statement. We'll have more later and tomorrow in the Boston Globe.

"This is Rodney Harrison. I'm basically here to let you all know that tomorrow the commissioner will announce that I've been suspended by the NFL for violating the league policy on banned substances. That suspension will be four games. I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was solely for accelerating the healing process of injuries I sustained while playing football.

"I haven't made excuses nor will I make excuses. I made a mistake and I'm very sorry for that. I understand that I'm a role model to high school to college, to young kids. I don't condone my decision, my behavior. I'm very, very embarrassed by it. I'm disappointed in myself and to any young person, any high schooler, any college athlete I sent the wrong message with my actions. And I would ask and I would want to be the example for them to never jeopardize what they believe in and never jeopardize their health. And they always have to love themselves."

Harrison also said he wanted to apologize to the Patriots organization and its fans.

THIS is the Rodney we know and love! Thanks for being honest, Rodney...

How many other people would have admitted this? Certain MLB players alleged to have used this stuff were shouting from rooftops for others to prove they did something wrong and we have a guy who is willing to admit he made a mistake. The hate ends here...

 

[reflexblue]

Rodney showed what a stand up guy he is. I never doubted if true that he wouldn't handle himself with class,and dignity. Something alot of so called fans haven't this evening.

 

[amazinPats]

I'm not worried a bit.

Nor am I, to be honest.

And who gives a crap what the rest of the league or their fans think?

But perhaps someone can clear this up: why does the league ban HGH when it helps players recover from devastating illnesses?

 

[NYCPatsFan]

I respect the man for saying that and when he comes back he is going to have a hell of a lot of motivation to redeem himself.

Go Pats! :rocker:

I must say that reading this made me feel 10x better and I respect him a lot for admitting to it and not making this an ongoing issue. The apology was sincere.

Quite agree. Reading this made me feel a whole lot better. Admire Rodney for his clear and forceful statement. Hope he comes back with a vengeance!