Possible new NFL drug policy?

Peter King and Tom Florio (and what a lovely couple they make) are reporting that the league and the NFLPA are working hard to finalize a new drug agreement quickly, and that if they get it done before Sunday, Welker's suspension could be reduced or even rescinded altogether. Also would possibly effect Josh Gordon.

The Manning reach IS long.

Seriously skeptical that it reaches backwards.
What I heard is that it will allow HGH in some situations.
So, can we get Rodney back for 4 games (starting in January)?

blunts for everyone!

This is something that has been in negotiations between the NFLPA and the NFL for several years now. There have been other issues that have prevented it from being implemented.

The NFLPA is hesitant to sign off on a carte blanche agreement to HGH testing. Considering what happened with Josh Gordon, it's understandable that they don't want a repeat. Even though the World Anti-Doping Agency (whose standards are used by the Olympics and other international sports) sets a threshold of 150 nanograms per milliliter, the NFL is ten times lower, at 15 ng/Ml. Gordon was just barely over that outdated limit at 16 ng; if he was an Olympic track athlete rather than an NFL player it would have been no problem.

The other sticking point is that Herr Kommissioner is judge, jury and executioner. What's the point of an appeals process if the person you appeal to is both the prosecutor and judge? They would also like to have a one-year confidential study done prior to implementation for HgH testing, to set an appropriate threshold; that seems reasonable.

There is also the question of other offenses such as DUI, where Goodell sometimes waits for the matter to be settled through the legal system first, and other times makes judgement beforehand. this lack of consistency is another issue that the NFLPA would like to have resolved.

Both sides seem to have been in agreement for some time with the basic concept of HGH testing as well easing up on the penalties for weed. It's the details and related issues that have been a sticking point. Ironically the tipping point to getting this fast-tracked has not been a drug-related offense, but was Ray Rice's two games for knocking out a woman. The discrepancy between his punishment and Gordon's shone a light on the league's archaic drug policy that could not be ignored.

On a side note, Welker's suspension is not clear cut as to whether or not it would be rescinded. While molly is a recreational drug, his failed test was allegedly for amphetamines - presumably something it was cut with. Speed would clearly be categorized as a performance enhancing drug rather than a recreational drug, and as a PED his suspension would most likely stand as is.

Brady_to_Moss said:

blunts for everyone!

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I haven't had a blunt in over a decade! So, yes please!

Simmons' most recent article talks about how Goodell has been more reactionary than actionary (is that a word) during his tenure. This is the perfect example. Instead of fixing the obvious weed issues in the drug policy, he waited until one of the league's stars gets banned for a year for a miniscule trace of weed. This is in line with the domestic violence policy that was exposed at then quickly revamped.

Why can't Goodell get anything right the first time? I know he is just a puppet for the owners but he makes $44M, he gets paid to take accountability .

Five years from now, after a special on PBS exposes the distibution and abuse of pain killers in NFL locker rooms, and the subsequent addiction of the players, Goodell is going to be OUTRAGED and really crack down on it.

they were supposed to have blood testing right after the new CBA was signed, but it never happened.

I think the players are starting to see that if they give a little (hgh blood testing) the NFL will raise its failed test requirements which means players can smoke a little weed every now and again.

Gronkandez said:

Simmons' most recent article talks about how Goodell has been more reactionary than actionary (is that a word) during his tenure. This is the perfect example. Instead of fixing the obvious weed issues in the drug policy, he waited until one of the league's stars gets banned for a year for a miniscule trace of weed. This is in line with the domestic violence policy that was exposed at then quickly revamped.

Why can't Goodell get anything right the first time? I know he is just a puppet for the owners but he makes $44M, he gets paid to take accountability .

Five years from now, after a special on PBS exposes the distibution and abuse of pain killers in NFL locker rooms, and the subsequent addiction of the players, Goodell is going to be OUTRAGED and really crack down on it.

Click to expand...

You do know he just can't change the league drug policy on is own right? That is a CBA mandated policy. Players and owners have to agree to it. That is on the players to get the testing changed.

Goodell has a lot of problems but the drug/ped/dui stuff needs to bargained.