The NFL said it would suspend for an indefinite period four players who are now active and at the center of a probe by the league for performance enhancing drugs, if the players fail to give interviews to the league by August 25. Matthews and Peppers are key players for Green Bays defense, and Neal is now a free agent who spent the past six seasons with the Packers.
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The suspension for the named players begins on Friday, August 26 and will be upheld until they have been interviewed by league investigators, according to the NFL. Charlie Sly, the IN pharmacist who made the accusations to Al-Jazeera, has recanted his statements about the players, including Peyton Manning, who was central to the report and will not be punished by the league after cooperating with investigators.
The suspensions for each player would continue until he has “fully participated” in an interview with league investigators, after which Commissioner Roger Goodell would determine whether and when the ban would be lifted.
Perhaps the most prominent name from this Al Jazeera report that came out back in December was future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.
According to multiple reports, the league has threatened to suspend those players, including multiple current or former members of the Green Bay Packers, if they choose not to submit to formal interviews prior to August 25. Harrison, Matthews, Neal and Peppers.
James Harrison clearly is at least suspicious that the NFL’s random drug tests aren’t so random.
Charlie Sly, a former intern at an anti-aging clinic who made the allegations, later recanted his claims. That’s between him, the (Players Association) and the league. Affidavits were sent by the NFLPA on behalf of the players, but Birch dismissed each as statements wholly devoid of any detail..
Neal wasn’t re-signed by the Packers after last season and remains a free agent.
The NFL should have its own “credible proof” first before it is allowed to suspend players for not cooperating in an investigation.
Commisioner Roger Goodell had the power to suspend Brady because of the latitude afforded him through Article 46 of the CBA, which was the main point of contention through Brady’s legal battle with the NFL. “You’d rather have those players than not”.
NOTES: Tomlin said that QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Antonio Brown and RBs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams won’t play in Thursday’s second preseason game against Philadelphia at Heinz Field.
“It’s a little more complicated than you might want it to be”. Harrison, a 14-year veteran who has denied knowing Sly or using PEDs, made headlines in June when he said he would submit to an interview – if Goodell came to his house.
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That’s the problem. Even though the players could fight the NFL on principle – and it’s understandable if they feel the NFL has no right to interview them over the Al Jazeera America hidden-camera story that implicated them – they’ll still be the ones sitting out when their teams are playing football this season.
