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
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I would think 40% could be possible.
Posted at 2:38PM on Feb 25th 2008 by NFL Tickets
2. Until they get a Brian McNamee to pimp, er, I mean to base their entire case on, this will continue to be a non-issue.
Posted at 2:38PM on Feb 25th 2008 by chris
3. just get them toake the stupid blood tests and issue over.
Posted at 2:38PM on Feb 25th 2008 by fourwho
4. Whether or not athletes should use steroids, HGH, etc... is a matter of opinion. But the fact is that when players don't do well, their career could very easily be over tomorrow especially if they have a bad injury. Then you factor in that as a person gets older, they take longer to recover and they usually don't heal as well.
Or is there some other reason to use substances, whether illegal or legal? Is it simply to enhance performance or recover from injuries? Is it peer pressure? Is eating right, exercising and drinking sports drinks enough to do the job nowadays?
Posted at 2:39PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Chris F.
5. Taking a blood test isn't a matter of being a man (hurts me to dis Berkman like that because I'm a die-hard Astros fan). The problem is that modern genetic testing makes your blood sample a brutal tool in contract negotiations and free agency. There's too much information in your genes to be just handed over to an employer so they can utilize it against you.
What if you have a 30% chance to develop some disease or organ defect that may or may not affect a player's productivity? You know the owner would use that against them in a negotiation. There are far worse examples as well.
May sound paranoid, but it's the truth. I'm 100% against blood sampling not matter how the owners want it conducted. I want all sports to be clean, but not at that cost.
Posted at 2:42PM on Feb 25th 2008 by August West
6. August West-
Interesting point that you make, especially as it relates to employers in general and maybe not professional sports teams. I do think that your concern is one that could be worked around. Independant labs and such.
On the professional level, most genetic problems are something that might be an issue when the players get older but aren't an issue when they are young and have skills.
Thanks all for reading and commenting,
Steph
Posted at 2:52PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Stephanie Stradley
7. Interesting to live in a society that is so concerend about what it's sports figurers have in their blood stream, but no one suggests to check on what is in the systems of our elected officials. I can get a medical report of what is in the system of a race horse, but when the law makers vote, what are they on. Perscription drugs can have side effects, let alone drugs or booze is involved. Although no self respecting government offical would want this. Lets have our leaders open the door for testing by monitoring
Posted at 5:08PM on Feb 25th 2008 by srb
8. the 'nfl player' who said this obviously a bengals player
Posted at 9:03PM on Feb 25th 2008 by south carolina steeler
9. The Carolina Panthers were one of the first teams to be exposed. Their connection with Dr. Short and his prescriptions to them for illegal substances came into the media spotlight following the Superbowl against the Patriots. THEN LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM ! Due to the exposure they could not risk getting caught again and have not been competitive since.
Posted at 8:19AM on Mar 7th 2008 by CAT