Prosecutors Reward Dana Stubblefield for Ratting Out Steroid Users

After former NFL player Dana Stubblefield pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his own steroid use last year, he began cooperating with prosecutors, naming names of fellow players, agents and trainers who were involved with steroids. As a result, prosecutors are recommending that Stubblefield get off with probation when he is sentenced Friday afternoon.

Stubblefield, who played defensive tackle from 1993 to 2003 with the 49ers, Redskins and Raiders, was involved in the BALCO scandal and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, the same judge who is presiding over the Barry Bonds case.

Howard Mintz of the San Jose Mercury News reports that prosecutors asked Illston to be lenient because Stubblefield provided "substantial cooperation" in the investigation, including naming names. The prosecutors have not publicly revealed the identities of any of the people fingered by Stubblefield.

Depending on how many people Stubblefield named -- and how prominent those people are -- this could be disastrous news for the NFL. So far BALCO has mostly been treated in the media as a baseball and track and field scandal, but if Stubblefield has information that can implicate high-profile NFL players, that could make the 2009 off-season a long one for Roger Goodell.

Stubblefield is expected to get two years' probation and no prison time.

UPDATE: Stubblefield got two year's probation and a $5,000 fine. He did not speak at his sentencing hearing, or to reporters afterward.