NFL FanHouse

Terry Bradshaw: I Used Steroids, but 'They Were Not Those Kind of Steroids'

Michael David Smith — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:16:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Media Watch, Pittsburgh, PEDs

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who said last week that he used steroids when he played for the Steelers, has now clarified his comments. The New York Daily News reports:

"I'm not bodybuilding here," Bradshaw said, laughing about the confusion that stemmed from the interview. "They were not those kind of steroids. They were anti-inflammatories."

This is tricky because in medicine, the word "steroid" just refers to a general class of chemical substances. But in sports, saying "we did steroids," as Bradshaw said last week on Dan Patrick's radio show, is almost always meant to refer to anabolic steroids, which were widely used in the NFL duing Bradshaw's playing days and have since been banned by every major sports league.

Bradshaw would be wise to choose his words more carefully -- especially considering how prevalent "those kind of steroids" were on the 1970s Steelers.

Terry Bradshaw: I Used Steroids, but 'They Were Not Those Kind of Steroids' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terry Bradshaw Says He Used Steroids

Michael David Smith — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:17:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Media Watch, Pittsburgh, PEDs

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw said in a radio interview with Dan Patrick last week that he used steroids during the 1970s, when he was leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles.

Bradshaw indicated that he obtained the steroids with a doctor's prescription, and that his primary motivation in using them was to recover from injuries, not to build muscle.

"We did steroids to get away the aches and the speed of healing," Bradshaw said. "My use of steroids from a doctor was to speed up injury, and thought nothing of it. ... It was to speed up the healing process, that was it. It wasn't to get bigger and stronger and faster."

It's been well established that several players on the great Steelers teams of the 1970s used steroids, but this is, I think, the first time Bradshaw has said he used them.

Via The Big Lead.

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Carolina Panthers' Dwayne Jarrett catches a pass during the team's football minicamp in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, June 5, 2008. Jarrett pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on Monday June 23, 2008, minutes before he was scheduled to go on trial in Charlotte. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

New Orleans Saints' Charles Grant, a Georgia native, signs a shirt during his youth football clinic Friday, June 20, 2008, in College Park, Ga., during which more than 250 youngsters were coached in drills by 12 NFL football players. (AP Photo/John Amis)

New Orleans Saints' Charles Grant, right, and Minnesota Vikings' Kendrick Allen playfully pit their strength against each other during Grant's youth football clinic Friday, June 20, 2008, in College Park, Ga., in which more than 250 children were coached in drills by 12 NFL players. (AP Photo/John Amis)

New Orleans Saints' Charles Grant, in black, an NFL football player and Georgia native, watches Jay Galloway, 14, run a drill during a football clinic Friday, June 20, 2008, in College Park, Ga. Twelve NFL football players coached more than 250 youngsters in football drills at Grant's camp. (AP Photo/John Amis)

New Orleans Saints' Charles Grant, in black shirt, joined by other NFL football players, rear, gets a sea of responses as he asks a question of attendees during a youth football clinic Friday, June 20, 2008, in College Park, Ga. More than 250 youngsters received coaching from 12 NFL players. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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Terry Bradshaw Says He Used Steroids originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dallas Police Department to Begin Testing Officers for Illegal Anabolic Steroids

Michael David Smith — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:08:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, PEDs

The Dallas Police Department has announced that it will add illegal anabolic steroids to the list of banned substances that officers are tested for, beginning on July 1. Acting Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson explains:

"It maintains the integrity of what we do and promotes community confidence," Chief Simpson said. "Nobody knows when they are going to be called for a test."

Dallas joins several big cities that now test their police officers, including Baltimore, Houston and Phoenix, where several cops were caught up in a federal steroid probe last year.

Dallas Police Department to Begin Testing Officers for Illegal Anabolic Steroids originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terrell Owens Has Never Failed a Drug Test, but NFL May Start Testing Him More

Michael David Smith — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:49:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Dallas, PEDs

Chris Mortensen of ESPN is reporting that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens could be subjected to more stringent drug testing because he has missed phone calls to schedule drug tests.

According to Mortensen, Owens has never failed a test. But the NFL's system of testing has strict rules, including saying that all players must make themselves available for random drug tests at all times. In Owens' case, there have been times when the league's drug testers have called him to arrange a test later in the day, and Owens hasn't answered the call or called them back. That's enough, under NFL rules, to subject a player to a more rigorous testing schedule.

Owens met with NFL officials on June 3 to discuss the matter, and he was told that he can now be randomly tested for performance-enhancing drugs up to 24 times a year for the rest of his career.

The NFL, the Cowboys and Owens' agents all declined to comment for Mortensen's story.

Terrell Owens Has Never Failed a Drug Test, but NFL May Start Testing Him More originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Death of David Jacobs, Steroids Dealer Who Gave Drugs to NFL Players, Ruled Suicide

Michael David Smith — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, NFL Police Blotter, PEDs

A day after local police said convicted steroids dealer David Jacobs had been murdered in his home, the medical examiner has now said Jacobs actually committed suicide.

Jacobs and his ex-girlfriend, a bodybuilder named Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell were found dead of gunshot wounds on Thursday in Jacobs' home in Plano, Texas. Police said both were murdered, but the medical examiner said today that Jacobs died of two self-inflicted gunshot wounds, one to the abdomen and one to the head.

Authorities have not made a ruling on the cause of Earhart-Savell's death.

Multiple media outlets have reported that Jacobs met with NFL officials and gave them the names of players he said bought steroids from him. Those names have not been made public, although Jacobs had said previously that he gave steroids to Matt Lehr (pictured), an offensive lineman who served a four-game suspension last year for a violation of the NFL's policy on steroids and related substances.

Death of David Jacobs, Steroids Dealer Who Gave Drugs to NFL Players, Ruled Suicide originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Murdered Steroids Dealer Worried Someone Would 'Put a Bullet in the Back of My Head'

Michael David Smith — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:45:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, NFL Police Blotter, PEDs

David Jacobs, the convicted steroids dealer who was found shot to death in his home Thursday, had predicted he might be murdered.

ESPN the Magazine writer Shaun Assael interviewed Jacobs after he had implicated other steroid users to federal investigators and to the NFL, and Assael reports this:

When explaining why he did not want to go public, Jacobs said: "The kinds of people I know about could put a bullet in the back of my head."

Jacobs' father discussed his son's death with Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times.

The elder Jacobs told Schmidt:

"I got a call from an anonymous caller who said, 'Call the Plano police department,' " he said. "I just got off the phone with the police about 30 seconds ago, and they told me about David, but said they didn't know how it happened."

He added: "I spoke with David through a text message about three or four days ago, and he said he was fine. He has been trying to rebuild his life. He got crossed with some bad things and made some bad choices. At this point, I am just beside myself."

Police have not released any information about suspects in Jacobs' death.

UPDATE: Death of David Jacobs, Steroids Dealer Who Gave Drugs to NFL Players, Ruled Suicide

Murdered Steroids Dealer Worried Someone Would 'Put a Bullet in the Back of My Head' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Convicted Steroids Dealer David Jacobs Found Murdered in His Home

Michael David Smith — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, NFL Police Blotter, PEDs

David Jacobs, a convicted steroids dealer who recently told NFL officials that he gave steroids to players, was found dead in his home today.

Jacobs, who had implicated NFL player Matt Lehr (pictured) as one of the people he gave steroids, was found dead along with a woman identified as his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell. A gun was also found at the home. Earhart-Savell's parents found the bodies.

A local TV news station reports that police said the deaths were considered a double homicide. The station also reports that Earhart-Savell's MySpace Profile lists her as an International Federation of Body Building and Fitness professional and a fitness model.

Jacobs was sentenced to three years' probation last month for his role in a steroid-distribution ring. He had been cooperating with law enforcement.

Convicted Steroids Dealer David Jacobs Found Murdered in His Home originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steroid Dealer Tells NFL of Players' Drug Use

Michael David Smith — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:46:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Police Blotter, PEDs

Convicted steroid trafficker David Jacobs met with NFL officials Wednesday and told them the names of players he says he supplied with banned performance-enhancing drugs. Jacobs will not, however, identify those players publicly. From the Dallas Morning News:

"The general topic was his knowledge of steroid and human growth hormone use by current and former players," said Hank Hockeimer, Mr. Jacobs' attorney, who accompanied his client to the meeting that took place in the Dallas area.

"They were thorough in their questioning," Mr. Hockeimer said. "David provided them with documents corroborating what he was telling them."

Mr. Hockeimer would not say which players were discussed.

"My view is that as long as the league is investigating this, we're not going to comment on any names provided," he said.

The one player Jacobs has named publicly is Matt Lehr, the New Orleans Saints offensive lineman who was suspended for four games in 2006 for violating the NFL policy on steroids and related substances. Lehr, with his suspension behind him, likely won't face further league discipline. The other players whom Jacobs named Wednesday likely won't be as lucky.

Steroid Dealer Tells NFL of Players' Drug Use originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 May 2008 07:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steroid Maker Says NFL Players Take Anti-Balding Drugs to Hide Steroid Use

Michael David Smith — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:55:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Police Blotter, PEDs

Convicted steroid distributor David Jacobs tells the New York Times that he counseled about 10 NFL players on how to exploit loopholes in the league's drug testing program, including taking the drug finasteride, which is found in the anti-balding medications Propecia and Proscar and which can mask the presence of steroids in urine tests.

Finasteride is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but it is not banned by the NFL. According to Jacobs, players have received prescriptions from team doctors, claiming that repeatedly putting their helmets on and taking them off was making them go bald.

Jacobs, who was sentenced on Thursday to three years' probation for distributing steroids, has said he helped NFL players, including Saints lineman Matt Lehr, obtain and use steroids. He now says he'll talk to the NFL about how to make its drug testing more effective -- but he says he won't name names.

Steroid Maker Says NFL Players Take Anti-Balding Drugs to Hide Steroid Use originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 02 May 2008 07:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chargers' Shawne Merriman Denies Rumors of Failed Drug Test

Michael David Smith — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Chargers, San Diego, PEDs

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports today that there's a rumor making the rounds that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman failed a drug test.

So Acee followed up on the rumor and asked Merriman whether it's true. Merriman says it isn't.

"I would know, if anybody," Merriman said. "If I failed a drug test or steroids test I'd be the first one to know about it. And after it being leaked the first time, I don't think someone would be holding back the results this time."

When Merriman says "the last time," he's referring to 2006, when he tested positive for steroids and was suspended four games.

This time, however, Acee asked Merriman if there was any chance the rumor Acee heard would turn out to be true, and Merriman answered, "Zero. None."

Hat tip: Pro Football Talk.

Chargers' Shawne Merriman Denies Rumors of Failed Drug Test originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jose Canseco Thinks His Life Is In Jeopardy

Eamonn Brennan — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:47:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, PEDs

Jose Canseco's sordid saga goes on. Few have turned "snitch" into such a profitable, attention-laden gig, but Canseco is doing well enough with it that he has no reason to go away anytime soon. Unless, of course, They get him.

Who are They? (No, they're not Anonymous. Though that would be kinda cool.) Perhaps only Jose knows:

A courtesy cup of black coffee was waiting for Jose Canseco on Friday when he arrived at his seat inside a downtown bookstore to sign copies of his second tell-all about steroids and baseball, "Vindicated." Before Canseco took out a pen, he sent the beverage back.

"Who made this coffee? If you don't know who made it, you've got to dump it," Canseco snapped at a store employee. "No way they are going to get me."

Of course, the writer didn't include whether or not Jose had smoked any of his homegrown ditchweed before the signing, so who knows if Jose was just suffering from a little bit of self-induced paranoia. Because it's not as if anybody is going to kill ... oh. Right. Jose better hire some security.

Jose Canseco Thinks His Life Is In Jeopardy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Golic Discusses His Steroid Use With David Letterman

Michael David Smith — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:31:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Video, NFL Media Watch, PEDs, TV and Movies

ESPN's Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic appeared on David Letterman Monday night, and a little over three minutes into their appearance, Letterman asked Golic about his past steroid use:

"Back in '87 I was with the Philadelphia Eagles," Golic said. "It was not illegal in the NFL then, [steroid testing] came about in the next CBA, I think it was in '89, but certainly it was illegal to acquire steroids and inject them."

"I blew out my shoulder and I had reconstructive surgery and it was in January and I didn't want to miss minicamp, it was only my second or third year in the league and I said I'm going to do it to recover quicker. I did it for about five or six weeks and it made me nuts. My wife was the one who said, you know, 'I understand what you're trying to do, but it's getting out of hand'."

When Letterman asked what he meant, Golic said, "Roid rage. The roid rage is very, very true. In the mid-80s there was a lot of steroids going on, it was used an awful lot and I think football has done a nice job of cleaning it up."

Letterman asked whether it's possible that moderate use of human growth hormone and steroids could be beneficial, and Golic said that might be true, but that athletes don't do anything in moderation.

Golic and Greenberg also discussed March Madness, Tiger Woods and Billy Crystal.

Mike Golic Discusses His Steroid Use With David Letterman originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shawne Merriman Was the Wrong Choice to Discuss Patriots' Cheating Allegations

Michael David Smith — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Chargers, Patriots, NFL Media Watch, Boston, San Diego, ESPN, PEDs

ESPN has been using Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman as a studio analyst for the last two days, and here's what he said about the latest Patriots cheating allegations:

ESPN likes to bring in various active players as analysts during the off-season, but Merriman was the wrong choice for this role for two reasons.

The first is that, frankly, he wasn't particularly coherent in his analysis. Even after watching that clip multiple times, I'm not sure exactly how he feels about Patriotgate.

But more importantly, let's not forget that Merriman himself has been caught cheating: He served a four-game suspension in 2006 for using steroids. The vast majority of players in the NFL have never been caught cheating, and if ESPN is going to bring in an active player to discuss other allegations of cheating, it would make much more sense to bring in one of the players from that vast majority, not one of the small minority who has cheated.

If Merriman wants to stipulate from the outset that he himself has cheated and address the situation facing the Patriots from that perspective, that would be different. But Merriman shouldn't be hired to discuss allegations of cheating if his own history of cheating is going to be ignored.

Shawne Merriman Was the Wrong Choice to Discuss Patriots' Cheating Allegations originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Prospect on Steroids: 'I'm Not Going to Get Tested, So Why Not?'

Michael David Smith — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, PEDs

Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune has an interesting report that explores whether NFL prospects have a window of opportunity to use performance-enhancing drugs with impunity between the end of their college careers and the time they report to their first NFL minicamps.

According to Zeigler, the typical NFL rookie stops getting tested at the end of his final season of college, gets tested once at the Scouting Combine in February, and then gets tested next when he reports for a team physical in May, June or July. That would seem to leave a couple of opportunities for athletes to do a steroid cycle, let the drugs get out of their system in time for the Combine, take the test there, do another cycle and have time to get clean before the next test.

Zeigler quotes one unnamed "prominent football player" as saying this:

"Here's what everyone thinks: I'm not going to get tested, so why not?" said the player, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Why not use whatever I want?

"That's the mentality."

If that's the mentality, the NFL and the union might need to re-think the off-season testing schedule for rookies. Either that, or Congress will re-think off-season testing for them.

NFL Prospect on Steroids: 'I'm Not Going to Get Tested, So Why Not?' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Player: 'At Least Forty Percent' of NFL Using Illegal Substances

Stephanie Stradley — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:41:00 EST

Filed under: Panthers, Patriots, Steelers, Texans, Houston, PEDs

Last month, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, "I don't think there is a significant amount of HGH use [in the NFL], but I have no factual basis for saying that."

At the combine, NFL Player's Association president, Troy Vincent said that the use of HGH is "not something that is common" in the NFL.

Though the league would like to hide behind its year round testing program, the truth is you can't test for HGH in a urine test. The NFLPA's executive director Gene Upshaw says they won't agree to a blood test because NFL players are big fat wusses about needles. (He didn't put it that way exactly, but that's what he is saying.)

The NFL can try to pretend that they don't have a HGH issue, sort of like Goodell destroying Patriots videotapes, but who really believes that performing enhancing drugs in the NFL are not a problem?

All this talk about HGH not being a problem in the NFL reminded me of a Houston Press Q&A with Houston Texans longsnapper Bryan Pittman from last September. When asked about the NFL's dirty little secret of performance enhancing drugs, he answered:

I think it is a problem, with the drugs like HGH (human growth hormone) which you can't test for. I don't want to go around accusing anyone, but I would estimate, just on my opinion, that at least forty percent, and maybe more, of the players are doing some kind of illegal substance.

He goes on to say that he thinks the league should make sure that everyone is on a level playing field.

Pittman is a rank and file kind of guy who is in the NFL for his longsnapping skills. (Mostly known for his blogged-around longsnapping video where he longsnapped groceries, footballs into basketball hoops and moving cars). He provided his opinion, just like Goodell and Vincent provided their opinions. Somehow I believe what Pittman is saying more because he has no incentive to say anything different. Also, I've seen what what has happened with recent playoff-bound teams.

How can the NFL claim that this is not a problem when Panther players subject to testing were able to take steroids and HGH the week before the Super Bowl? Who really believes that a key defensive player on a repeat Super Bowl championship team, Rodney Harrison is the only NFL player who took HGH? How can you not look with a skeptical eye at the Steelers long time physicians' purchases on his personal credit card of $150,000 of testosterone and HGH even if he said was for his elderly patients.

The NFL drug program failed to catch the Panthers PED takers, and according to Upshaw the players won't be tested for HGH until a reliable urine test is created.

Personally, I like Astro first baseman Lance Berkman's suggestion on how to clean HGH out of baseball. Be a man, and submit to blood testing. And if the blood testing isn't reliable for large groups at this time, then submit to a blood test that is stored until they do have a reliable test. Derek Jeter has suggested the same thing. Taking a blood sample might be able to act as a deterrent in the MLB and NFL.

Seems to me that the official public NFL point of view on HGH is nothing to see here, move along.

Previously at FanHouse:
Former NFL Player Ross Tucker: Scouting Combine Leads Players to Use Steroids
Roger Goodell: I Have No Factual Basis for Saying That HGH Use in NFL Is Low
Rodney Harrison Was Busted for HGH, but Bill Belichick Has No Thoughts on the Matter
Derek Jeter Wants Your Blood
Hank Steinbrenner's Glass House is Destroyed by Football Shaped Stone

NFL Player: 'At Least Forty Percent' of NFL Using Illegal Substances originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former NFL Player Ross Tucker: Scouting Combine Leads Players to Use Steroids

Michael David Smith — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, PEDs

Former NFL player Ross Tucker is now a columnist for Sports Illustrated, and he makes an interesting case in his most recent column: Tucker claims that the pressure to perform well in the 40-yard dash, bench press and other events at the NFL scouting combine leads some players to use performance-enhancing drugs.

The most notable example is San Diego Chargers defensive lineman Luis Castillo, who tested positive for steroids at the 2005 combine. But Tucker also writes he talked to two recently retired NFL players who said they took performance-enhancing drugs before and/or after the combine.

"I had spent seemingly my whole life working toward the opportunity to play in the NFL," one NFL player who talked to Tucker said. "I wanted to be able to bench press at the combine and did not want teams to think that I was either injured or lacked the toughness to fight through an injury."

Another player who wasn't invited to the combine told Tucker, "Right after my college season I sat down and weighed the pros and cons of taking steroids, and ultimately decided that the pros outweighed the cons. I looked at this [my pro day workout] as my one shot in life."

Are stories like this common? Are dozens or hundreds of prospective NFL players using performance-enhancing drugs to get ready for workouts with NFL scouts? Tucker seems to think it goes far beyond the players he talked to.

Former NFL Player Ross Tucker: Scouting Combine Leads Players to Use Steroids originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESPN's Mike Golic Discusses His Steroid Use, Mike Greenberg Feels Uncomfortable

Michael David Smith — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Media Watch, ESPN, PEDs

On ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning, co-hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg were, of course, discussing the Roger Clemens hearings. And when the subject arose of Clemens saying he was close enough to Andy Pettitte that he would have known if Pettitte were using steroids, Golic, who has acknowledged using steroids when he was an NFL player, said that was wrong:

But what's interesting about that 30-second clip is the way that Greenberg clearly felt uncomfortable. Greenberg is usually a smooth speaker, but he stammered and stuttered as he interrupted Golic when Golic began talking about his own steroid use. As soon as he could get the words out, he tried to shift the course of the conversation.

This follows a pattern: Golic has never had a problem discussing his steroid use, but Greenberg is clearly uncomfortable with it. Whenever Golic talks about having used steroids, Greenberg cuts him off, as if he's worried that Golic talking about his own steroid use is somehow going to damage Mike and Mike in the Morning.

And that's silly. The entire point of ESPN hiring ex-athletes is that ex-athletes presumably have experience that they can share with the viewers. Greenberg should let Golic speak freely and draw on his own experience as a steroid user, not cut him off every time he brings it up.

ESPN's Mike Golic Discusses His Steroid Use, Mike Greenberg Feels Uncomfortable originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rodney Harrison Was Busted for HGH, but Bill Belichick Has No Thoughts on the Matter

Michael David Smith — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:50:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, NFL Video, Boston, Super Bowl, PEDs, FanHouse Interview

Notes on a trip to the Super Bowl.

At Bill Belichick's final pre-Super Bowl press conference today, I asked him about the four-game suspension that Patriots safety Rodney Harrison served at the start of the season for purchasing human growth hormone. Here's my question and Belichick's answer:

Belichick said, correctly, that it's a league matter and not something the team has any influence on. But he didn't answer the second part of my question, which is whether Harrison is the only Patriot to use HGH or just the only one who got caught. My hunch is the latter.

Rodney Harrison Was Busted for HGH, but Bill Belichick Has No Thoughts on the Matter originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dana Stubblefield to Plead Guilty in Balco Case

Michael David Smith — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Redskins, Washington, DC, San Francisco, PEDs

Former San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield is expected to plead guilty today to lying to investigators in the Balco case, the San Jose Mercury News is reporting.

Stubblefield, a three-time Pro Bowler who was named defensive player of the year in 1997, is facing felony charges of lying to federal agents about using performance-enhancing drugs that he got from Balco.

It is not known whether Stubblefield will have to spend time in prison, or whether he will cooperate with authorities investigating other professional athletes. So far four people -- Marion Jones, Greg Anderson, Victor Conte and Patrick Arnold -- have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the Balco investigation. Former track coach Trevor Graham and cyclist Tammy Thomas are awaiting trial in the Balco case. The government's highest-profile target in the case is Barry Bonds.

The NFL suspended Stubblefield for four games in 2003 after he tested positive for the Balco-produced steroid THG, also known as "The Clear."

Dana Stubblefield to Plead Guilty in Balco Case originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vikings' Ray Edwards Suspended for Steroids

Michael David Smith — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, Minnesota, PEDs

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards has been suspended for the last four games of the regular season for violating the NFL's policy on steroids and related substances. There is no word on which substance, specifically, Edwards tested positive for.

Edwards will be eligible to re-join the active roster on Monday, Dec. 31, meaning that he will be able to play in the postseason if the Vikings make the playoffs.

A second-year player out of Purdue, Edwards has started 11 of the Vikings' 12 games this season. Sunday's win over the Lions was the first game this season he didn't start, but he still made one of the biggest plays of that game when he tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage that teammate Kenechi Udeze picked off and ran back 37 yards, setting up a Vikings touchdown.

Vikings' Ray Edwards Suspended for Steroids originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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