Report: New NFL CBA Will Have HGH Testing [UPDATE] Players Ratify CBA

by Brad Wells on Aug 4, 2011 4:38 PM EDT in 2011 Colts News

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 25: DeMaurice Smith (L) executive director of the National Football League Players' Association and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (R) look on as Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday addresses the the media on July 25, 2011 in Washington, DC. The NFL players and owners announced they have reached agreement and ended the lockout. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

[UPDATE] From Jay Glazer:

The players have voted to ratify the new CBA!

The new NFL collective bargaining agreement was ratified today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. This now sets 'in stone,' so to speak, ten years of NFL labor peace.

According to reports, this new agreement will allow for Human Growth Hormone (HGH) testing on NFL players.

According to Judy Battista of the NY Times, the NFL will become the first league to have HGH testing. Mark Maske of WaPo says the deal calls for HGH testing to be implemented within 30 days of ratification, which is just in time for beginning of regular season September 8th.

This news is, of course, history making. No American sports league has ever tested for HGH, and the specter of it's use has clouded the legitimacy of records and the outcome of games. The classic example is Patriots safety Rodney Harrison using HGH to get ready for a playoff game against the Colts in 2004. The Patriots won that game due in large part to Harrison, who had a key INT in the game.

The Patriots won the Super Bowl that year, and Harrison being on the field (with an illegal substance in his system), was a big reason why.

Some, like SI's Will Carroll, think the HGH testing will amount to little:

I'll go on record now: NFL hGH testing will catch no one. Zero. Nada. If I'm wrong, I'll do something for charity.

I'm a bit more optimistic, but, more importantly, it's good that the NFL finally address this 'turd in the punch bowl.' This is why NFL is king, and all other leagues are sucking dust from their tailpipe.

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Comments

Can we rule out Brian Cushing For week 1?

{ ZuKeO}

by BobInBlue on Aug 4, 2011 3:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Free Agent Signings

I think quality signings on D, Anderson, Sims, And Harris are all still young enough to be productive. IMO no one expects full-time starters but good role players. If it doesn’t work out by the 53 man roster, cut them. More to be had, O-line help maybe a safety. Spend it well and wise.

by WaterguyMark on Aug 4, 2011 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

You have proof about Harrison using it in-season?

The link is 404’d.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 5, 2011 1:33 AM EDT reply actions

it just worked for me

i don't give autographs

by muncie_in_this on Aug 5, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Then we go on to the second part of BBS' statement.

Where does it say Harrison used it to get ready for the Colts in 04? Or used it in season?

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 5, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

in reality, who cares?

every sb winning team of the last 20yrs probably had players that were using peds. honestly, they should probably just allow the use of hgh…at least teams doctors would make sure it’s being utilized correctly.

by BLOODontheTRACKS on Aug 5, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't really care about the HGH/PED debate.

But if we’re able to just make shit up with no basis for it, Sanders was doped to the eyeballs in the 06 postseason (and that is probably closer to the truth than Harrison using it before the Colts game in 04).

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 6, 2011 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions

i always called him "steroid bob"

but they are both probably equally true…i mean one guy did test positive

by BLOODontheTRACKS on Aug 6, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Who tested positive? Sanders?

Harrison wasn’t tested. The league was investigating the prescribing doctor and that’s how they caught him. His name was on the list and he admitted to it when asked.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Aug 7, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

He MUST have used it

Pey Pey doesn’t throw interceptions

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Aug 7, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually, although you may not consider it a "league," since it is minor,

Minor League Baseball already has HGH testing since Minor League players are not a part of the player’s association, and therefore are not subject to the CBA.

So, although the NFL is the first, I suppose you could call it “major” league to have HGH testing, it is not the first professional league to do so.

Dallas Clark: Some tight ends catch. Some block. Clark just owns.

by Sir Sci on Aug 5, 2011 3:51 AM EDT reply actions

c'mon now

I hate Harrison as much as anyone (probably more), but to single him out as the only HGH user on the field and site that as the reason we lost in 2004 is a bit naive. Look how huge all these players are, I’m sure there are TONS of guys using. Hell, look at Bob Sanders…all his tendon injuries raised a huge red flag to possible steroid use.

I’m not about to throw stones since its possible we live in a glass house here!

by bigpony on Aug 5, 2011 9:35 AM EDT reply actions

Especially when he just accused Harrison of using in-season with no proof or corroborating evidence.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 5, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

will carroll should do something for charity anyway

i don't give autographs

by muncie_in_this on Aug 5, 2011 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

Good for PR, not much else

All this test will do is reinforce the view that the league wants fans to believe – that PED use isn’t widespread because there’s testing involved. It’s there to look good on the surface.

The reality is, just like the other testing procedures, the loopholes are big enough to drive a Mack truck through. With other PED’s, the only guys that will get caught are those that are either stupid, or have a legitimate accident. Testing for HGH is even more forgiving.

Nobody gets caught with this HGH test, which is why nobody really cares about taking it. If I take HGH for breakfast, I could test negative for it by bedtime and almost certainly by tomorrow morning. Because there is no reasonable window to test these guys in that would catch them, nobody gets caught by the test. Governing bodies’ logic is that having no positive tests proves that usage isn’t a problem, when really, it proves you’re using a lousy test.

It’s also more expensive to run, so one would have to ask themselves how much ownership will really want to spend on tests that don’t work, especially when there’s little financial incentive to catch and suspend players from the owner’s and coach’s perspective, as well.

They’ll put a bare bones policy in place to sell to the public and to cover themselves against possible lawsuits, but as far as it being anywhere near strong or effective enough to discourage HGH use? Not on your life.

by Scallywag on Aug 5, 2011 12:03 PM EDT reply actions