Good article by Callahan contrasting/comparing McGwire and Merriman

[PatsRI]

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=176282&format=&page=1

He's dead on. I think McGwire should never get in either but he didn't even test positive while Merriman did and is lauded for denying it by his own team.

 

[ironwasp]

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=176282&format=&page=1

He's dead on. I think McGwire should never get in either but he didn't even test positive while Merriman did and is lauded for denying it by his own team.

It's a good article.

I've said this before, and doubtless I'll say it again. The NFL's laissez-faire attitude to drugs and other off-field activities is an absolute disgrace and one that at some point will threaten to overwhelm the game in sewerage if it is not addressed.

Merriman's four match ban, plus his Pro Bowl appearance sends out the wrong message. As does the utter lack of action taken against the Bengals and their hordes of arrestees and other the other law-breaking morons.

Callahan is right. The message to young players in high school desperate to make college, or those in college looking to get to the NFL, or those in the NFL looking to improve their careers is: take a chance. We don't care aboiut anything other than winning.

The minimum sentence for steroid abuse should be a year out of the game. A second offence and you're out for good.

And if Tom Brady or Richard Seymour rather than Shawn Merriman were the ones failing tests I'd be saying exactly the same thing.

 

[marty]

I liked the bottom line of this article, but did anyone else find the writing in the beginning of this piece very confusing? I felt it was very sloppy, like he was getting an award to use as many words as possible to get a simple thought across!

 

[captain stone]

It's a good article.

I've said this before, and doubtless I'll say it again. The NFL's laissez-faire attitude to drugs and other off-field activities is an absolute disgrace and one that at some point will threaten to overwhelm the game in sewerage if it is not addressed.

Merriman's four match ban, plus his Pro Bowl appearance sends out the wrong message. As does the utter lack of action taken against the Bengals and their hordes of arrestees and other the other law-breaking morons.

Callahan is right. The message to young players in high school desperate to make college, or those in college looking to get to the NFL, or those in the NFL looking to improve their careers is: take a chance. We don't care aboiut anything other than winning.

The minimum sentence for steroid abuse should be a year out of the game. A second offence and you're out for good.

And if Tom Brady or Richard Seymour rather than Shawn Merriman were the ones failing tests I'd be saying exactly the same thing.

Hear, hear.

Merriman is a disgusting, cheating, lying freak.

The NFL needs to do 2 things:
Increase the minimum suspension for performance-enhancing (not recreational) drugs to at least 8 games, esp. if an in-season test is failed; and remove from Pro-Bowl consideration anyone who fails an in-season PED test.

Once again, another spot-on article by Callahan, the best sports columnist in Boston. Thank goodness Boston is a 2-newspaper town.

 

[WaBoltsFan]

Hear, hear.

Merriman is a disgusting, cheating, lying freak.

The NFL needs to do 2 things:
Increase the minimum suspension for performance-enhancing (not recreational) drugs to at least 8 games, esp. if an in-season test is failed; and remove from Pro-Bowl consideration anyone who fails an in-season PED test.

Once again, another spot-on article by Callahan, the best sports columnist in Boston. Thank goodness Boston is a 2-newspaper town.

roflmao, how convenient. To post that during the week they're about to play them. NE talks about having class? lol let's see what you guys come up with next.

 

[Koettbulle]

Maybe assaulting a police officer and getting shot while my cracked up girlfriend tries to run him over.

 

[abyzmul]

Maybe assaulting a police officer and getting shot while my cracked up girlfriend tries to run him over.

haha! that's awesome!

 

[abyzmul]

Hear, hear.

Merriman is a disgusting, cheating, lying freak.

The NFL needs to do 2 things:
Increase the minimum suspension for performance-enhancing (not recreational) drugs to at least 8 games, esp. if an in-season test is failed; and remove from Pro-Bowl consideration anyone who fails an in-season PED test.

Once again, another spot-on article by Callahan, the best sports columnist in Boston. Thank goodness Boston is a 2-newspaper town.

 

[1BoltFan Here4Fun]

That article is pathetic. Surely you guys demand more from your sportswriters?

Is it too inconvenient to point out that Merriman has one sample of urine that tested positive in the preseason? and hasn't tested positive again in spite of the fact that he is now being regularly tested??

Whatever. He'll always be roid boy to any fan who roots for the other team. His bad.

Its just a shame to see a 'columnist' write an article with little basis in fact.

 

[Clonamery]

roflmao, how convenient. To post that during the week they're about to play them. NE talks about having class? lol let's see what you guys come up with next.

You don't have to be here.

 

[Koettbulle]

Why is Nate Kaeding crying?

 

[tssd888]

Hear, hear.

Merriman is a disgusting, cheating, lying freak.

The NFL needs to do 2 things:
Increase the minimum suspension for performance-enhancing (not recreational) drugs to at least 8 games, esp. if an in-season test is failed; and remove from Pro-Bowl consideration anyone who fails an in-season PED test.

Once again, another spot-on article by Callahan, the best sports columnist in Boston. Thank goodness Boston is a 2-newspaper town.

"Linn Goldberg, professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and a steroid expert, cites a 2003 investigation done for the International Olympic Committee in which 240 supplements in the U.S. were tested and 45 tested positive for steroids. Nandrolone was the most common. "It is plausible," Goldberg said of the explanation. "There's a reason why the supplement industry needs to be better regulated."

I'm not even trying to defend him and say for sure he didn't do it. My point is that we don't know for sure so therefore you can't just banish him from football for life. If he did do it, then he deserves all the bad names and then some. We just don't know though. Now.....should he be caught a 2nd time then I will scream "guilty".

 

[PatsRI]

"Linn Goldberg, professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and a steroid expert, cites a 2003 investigation done for the International Olympic Committee in which 240 supplements in the U.S. were tested and 45 tested positive for steroids. Nandrolone was the most common. "It is plausible," Goldberg said of the explanation. "There's a reason why the supplement industry needs to be better regulated."

I'm not even trying to defend him and say for sure he didn't do it. My point is that we don't know for sure so therefore you can't just banish him from football for life. If he did do it, then he deserves all the bad names and then some. We just don't know though. Now.....should he be caught a 2nd time then I will scream "guilty".

So he's the only one in the NFL who took this supplement. Besides the NFL puts out a list of approved supplements. If you don't take one of these then you get what you deserve.

 

[captain stone]

"Linn Goldberg, professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and a steroid expert, cites a 2003 investigation done for the International Olympic Committee in which 240 supplements in the U.S. were tested and 45 tested positive for steroids. Nandrolone was the most common. "It is plausible," Goldberg said of the explanation. "There's a reason why the supplement industry needs to be better regulated."

I'm not even trying to defend him and say for sure he didn't do it. My point is that we don't know for sure so therefore you can't just banish him from football for life. If he did do it, then he deserves all the bad names and then some. We just don't know though. Now.....should he be caught a 2nd time then I will scream "guilty".

Fair post. I didn't suggest, however, that Merriman be banished from football for life. But the League, the Chargers and the CBS Network should be embarrased by that halftime interview. I lost a lot of respect for James Brown after Sunday.

 

[oldskool138]

I'm not even trying to defend him and say for sure he didn't do it. My point is that we don't know for sure so therefore you can't just banish him from football for life. If he did do it, then he deserves all the bad names and then some. We just don't know though. Now.....should he be caught a 2nd time then I will scream "guilty".

What are you talking about? He was suspended for four games by the NFL for failing a drug test. "If he did do it" "We don't know for sure" "We just don't know"...Yeah, we do. You're only willing to admit Merriman took a banned substance if he gets caught a second time???

Todd Sauerbrun, the Pats punter was busted and suspended for using ephedra earlier this year (while on the Broncos roster). I'm not in denial about it because it's a cold, hard fact.

 

[tssd888]

What are you talking about? He was suspended for four games by the NFL for failing a drug test. "If he did do it" "We don't know for sure" "We just don't know"...Yeah, we do. You're only willing to admit Merriman took a banned substance if he gets caught a second time???

Todd Sauerbrun, the Pats punter was busted and suspended for using ephedra earlier this year (while on the Broncos roster). I'm not in denial about it because it's a cold, hard fact.

gimme a break buddy....you know what I meant when I said "if he did do it". I meant if he did it knowingly or whether it was in fact the result of tainted supplement like he claims. Regardless,he did violate the policy and he served the suspension. My point is that there is a big difference whether he is in fact a cheater and a roid boy or whether this was an isolated incident and a poor choice to use that supplement. The answer to that is what I'm saying "we just don't know".

hope that's more clear for ya.

 

[oldskool138]

gimme a break buddy....you know what I meant when I said "if he did do it". I meant if he did it knowingly or whether it was in fact the result of tainted supplement like he claims. Regardless,he did violate the policy and he served the suspension. My point is that there is a big difference whether he is in fact a cheater and a roid boy or whether this was an isolated incident and a poor choice to use that supplement. The answer to that is what I'm saying "we just don't know".

hope that's more clear for ya.

Okay, let's say your friend left some drugs in your car. If you get pulled over a broken tail light, lets say, and the cop sees the bag you get arrested. You can deny that they're your drugs but, in the end, you will have to pay the penalty, not your friend.

The same is true in the Merriman situation. I'm sure he and his trainers are aware the NFL's drug policy. Isn't the onus on the player and trainers to check and double check to see if the suppliments contain any of the banned substances? I salute the SD fans for letting Barry Bonds (Mr. "I thought it was flaxseed oil") get an earfull when he plays down there. That's why I'm a little shocked by the Charger fans and the Merriman situation.

 

[tssd888]

Okay, let's say your friend left some drugs in your car. If you get pulled over a broken tail light, lets say, and the cop sees the bag you get arrested. You can deny that they're your drugs but, in the end, you will have to pay the penalty, not your friend.

The same is true in the Merriman situation. I'm sure he and his trainers are aware the NFL's drug policy. Isn't the onus on the player and trainers to check and double check to see if the suppliments contain any of the banned substances? I salute the SD fans for letting Barry Bonds (Mr. "I thought it was flaxseed oil") get an earfull when he plays down there. That's why I'm a little shocked by the Charger fans and the Merriman situation.

and he did pay the penalty, so what is your point? You know my point and it is that I don't think anyone can say for sure whether he is a lifelong cheater and roid user or whether or not it was a tainted supplement. Still his fault for using it, don't get me wrong here. SD fans will defend him and others may call him roid boy for life. Truth of the matter is that only he knows the real truth and unless you have magical pyschic powers you and I don't know either.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

What about repeat Pro Bowler Larry Izzo? Ted Johnson? Sauerbrun?

I think it is 100% right that steriods have to be outlawed permenantly if we are to send the correct message to the community and the kids.

I also think most players in the league have done steriods of some type, or human growth hormone, or similiar supplements in addition to taking god knows what type of pain medicine to play in games.

As much as I am annoyed at a couple of the Chargers fans that have trolled our board, I just don't think Merriman did anything remotely out of the ordinary for a NFL player. I understand that he is being talked up a lot, but it seems to me to be kind of a convenient tactic to single out one guy, even if I don't like him and think a couple of his fans are trolls lately.

I think that he is one of a thousand NFL players that are currently in the league who have messed with steriods or similiar substances along the way.

My two cents worth is simply that everyone is using Merriman as the shining example of steriod use, and I think we could find several cases in EVERY NFL lockerroom.

And judging by Izzo and Sauerbrun being on the team, I think all coaches turn a somewhat blind eye to the situation.

I feel that a few people at our board are throwning around the name Merriman as a cheap form of smack talk, and I really think that the steriod issue is much bigger than one guy, and that the pats probably have their own contingent of users. Just a thought.

 

[Kdo5]

That article is pathetic. Surely you guys demand more from your sportswriters?

Is it too inconvenient to point out that Merriman has one sample of urine that tested positive in the preseason? and hasn't tested positive again in spite of the fact that he is now being regularly tested??

Whatever. He'll always be roid boy to any fan who roots for the other team. His bad.

Its just a shame to see a 'columnist' write an article with little basis in fact.

You homers just cant admit it. You have a cheating, stupid(as displayed during the Pats/Jets halftime show), pathetic piece of trash who should have been suspended for a year. I have to agree, the Chargers wouldnt have 14 wins if it werent for Merriman and his super human performances.

Its just that Chargers fans are too arrogant. Lets say a big time player on the Patriots tested positive for steroids. I'd want them suspended long term and would be completely ashamed of that player and the embarassment he could bring to the team. But Chargers fans believe Merriman's ****-and-bull story dont they?

I cant believe Merriman had the balls to come onto TV and start yapping about a game in the process that he definitley wasnt even watching.