The NFL is threatening James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Mike Neal with suspensions over a new PED probe if the players don’t respond to interviews the league wants to conduct, USA Today reported.
Advertisement
The league has threatened to suspend Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal and James Harrison if they don’t cooperate with the Al Jazeera investigation by August 25.
Harrison initially resisted the idea of submitting to an interview with the commissioner, but has since agreed to meet with investigators at the end of the month.
As you know, the league has been investigating a nationally televised report concerning potential violations of the collectively bargained Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances.
Harrison said Tuesday that his offer to let Goodell come to his house and interview him still stands.
“Harrison, Matthews, Neal and Peppers be given until Thursday, August 25 to provide interviews”, the letter, obtained Monday by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and PackersNews.com, informed the players.
“The bigger outcome wasn’t really worth it”, Harrison said after the Steelers vs. “I wouldn’t be on the team”.
“I’m just glad the process is moving forward”, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said after the Packers’ 20-12 home victory over Oakland on Thursday night.
Harrison said he expects the questions to be limited to the contents of the report and said he doesn’t know “whatever evidence they think they may have”.
Birch’s letter says Neal lied in his statement, which “includes an assertion that is demonstrably false” – hammering home the need for interviews.
Harrison said he assumes the meeting will take place in Pittsburgh, but he said he wasn’t sure about the date. His hope seems to be exposing the man he calls a “crook”, Roger Goodell. The players haven’t only refused to talk to the National Football League but aren’t talking all that much to anybody since the Al-Jazeera report surfaced.
“I’ve been prosecuted, persecuted in the media by them, for something I didn’t do”, Harrison said.
Harrison, who has spent all but one of his 13 seasons with Pittsburgh, had one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, returning an interception 100 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the half in Super Bowl XLII. Patriots QB Tom Brady will serve a four-game suspension this season because Goodell had to save face with the owners after spending millions on a tainted investigation.
Advertisement
And then you can do a three-hour special leading up to the actual trial, just like the schedule release.
