NFL's new safety policy

[waffle]

Originally Posted by yachties23

Well than I apologize, doesn't change the fact that my statement is true.

Its true because you believe it.

Originally Posted by yachties23

Oh to view the world through a pair of black and yellow glasses....

I, in fact, HATE the Steelers, I was born and raised as a Bengals fan (despite the ownership having no love for me as a fan, I still love the team), however, one has to respect the hard work and dedication that is given day in and day out to put your body on the line for the entertainment of a country. Look, I wish I could say I thought the guy was using PEDs, I really do, nothing would make me happier than calling the dude a cheater, but I just don't see it as the truth. Truth is, the guy was making like $5,200/wk on p-squad, while nice, gave him the ability to train his balls off... A guy like Harrison doesn't seem like the type to want to put PEDs in his body, he looks like the type that wants to do it himself just to say he did when he's ripping heads off of players.. but then again, he can prove me wrong, so that's just my

Originally Posted by yourchoice

People argued the same thing for all of the 50+ HR hitters in baseball ten years ago. We all know how that turned out.

Ryan Howard hits 58 hrs, is he using??? Albert Belle, Greg Vaughn, Jim Thome, Prince Fielder, Cecil Fielder, Brady Anderson, Ken Griffey, Jr., Andruw Jones... etc, for the 3 you speak of, I just gave you 9 that didn't so the argument there is that because there are a couple of bad apples, the whole bunch is spoiled is not true. I agree that the possibility exists that players in the NFL are getting away with PED usage (Brian Cushing), but I don't think that just because a guy goes from p-squad to the team because he realized he was too small to play LB in the NFL is a reason to instantly assume he was using. Almost every player that leaves college and makes it to the NFL bulks up or shapes up or trims down when given the opportunity to meet with coaches whose sole jobs are to help them do just that. ****, give me a conditioning coach 5 days a week all year round and I bet I could get into football shape as well... oh yeah and then I get a salary for doing it... thats just gravy!

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by waffle

Ryan Howard hits 58 hrs, is he using??? Albert Belle, Greg Vaughn, Jim Thome, Prince Fielder, Cecil Fielder, Brady Anderson, Ken Griffey, Jr., Andruw Jones... etc, for the 3 you speak of, I just gave you 9 that didn't so the argument there is that because there are a couple of bad apples, the whole bunch is spoiled is not true.

You can't say those 9 "didn't". You gave me nine that either a) didn't use, b) weren't caught or c) weren't tested since MLB didn't start testing until 2004. More than likely, either a) or c). Anyone who's career ended before 2004 is suspect, in my eyes. There's a reason they call it the "Steroid Era". And you seriously don't think it's likely that Brady Anderson used PEDs? He's one of the posterboys, IMO. And I realize I set the barometer at 50+ HRs. My bad. A guy that went from averaging 3 HRs/yr to 20/yr is just as suspect.

Originally Posted by waffle

I agree that the possibility exists that players in the NFL are getting away with PED usage (Brian Cushing), but I don't think that just because a guy goes from p-squad to the team because he realized he was too small to play LB in the NFL is a reason to instantly assume he was using. Almost every player that leaves college and makes it to the NFL bulks up or shapes up or trims down when given the opportunity to meet with coaches whose sole jobs are to help them do just that. ****, give me a conditioning coach 5 days a week all year round and I bet I could get into football shape as well... oh yeah and then I get a salary for doing it... thats just gravy!

I don't disagree it's possible, even likely, that Harrison doesn't use. Most players probably don't. My point was how many times did we hear "hard work", "training" and "eating right" from baseball players in the 90s and early 00s? A TON. It turned out a lot of it was BS.

All of this doesn't change the fact that Harrison is one of the dirtiest, non-arm-wrapping tacklers in the NFL.

[yachties23]

Personally I hate the steelers, and the team as a whole is loaded with dirty players, so yes my opinion is biased. Truth be told the NFL is very Lax on their PED testing. Yes guys get caught occasionally, but you can not tell me there aren't guys doing stuff either that can't be tested for, or even worse, know when they are going to be tested.

And I'm not saying a guy can't get in shape, but lets face it he went from practice squad, to defensive MVP in one season. That doesn't happen, ever. To anyone.

and by the way LOL at Albert Belle and Brady Anderson being on your list of guys who didn't use. Neither was ever tested.

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by yachties23

Truth be told the NFL is very Lax on their PED testing. Yes guys get caught occasionally, but you can not tell me there aren't guys doing stuff either that can't be tested for, or even worse, know when they are going to be tested.

Actually the NFL has one of the strictest PED testing policies of all sports and probably the strickest of the major 4 in America, with probably the biggest list of banned substances.

And as far as stuff that isn't tested for, the only thing I am aware of is HGH because there isn't a reliable test that doesn't involve getting blood drawn, and even that one is not proven to be 100% accurate.

Knowing when they are going to be tested is not an issue either, every Monday after a game a random sample from every team is tested as soon as they show up to the facility, with no way to anticipate if they are on the list. There are also random drug screenings in the off-season where you have 24 hours to appear at the closest testing facility. Failure to take any drug test within the prescribed time results in a positive test.

Now street drugs are a different story, but cocaine and marijuana aren't exactly helping people catch touchdowns or sack the QB.

I realize most of your statements stem from your hatred of James Harrison and the Steelers in general, but they are not entirely correct.

[yachties23]

Hatred is such a strong word, but yes I am biased. This is America where the court of public opinion rules, and just based off what I see on the field, and the issues with his character, yes I'm going to assume he cheats. If that makes me a bad person, or judge-mental, so be it.

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

Actually the NFL has one of the strictest PED testing policies of all sports and probably the strickest of the major 4 in America, with probably the biggest list of banned substances.

And as far as stuff that isn't tested for, the only thing I am aware of is HGH because there isn't a reliable test that doesn't involve getting blood drawn, and even that one is not proven to be 100% accurate.

Knowing when they are going to be tested is not an issue either, every Monday after a game a random sample from every team is tested as soon as they show up to the facility, with no way to anticipate if they are on the list. There are also random drug screenings in the off-season where you have 24 hours to appear at the closest testing facility. Failure to take any drug test within the prescribed time results in a positive test.

Now street drugs are a different story, but cocaine and marijuana aren't exactly helping people catch touchdowns or sack the QB.

I realize most of your statements stem from your hatred of James Harrison and the Steelers in general, but they are not entirely correct.

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by yachties23

Hatred is such a strong word, but yes I am biased. This is America where the court of public opinion rules, and just based off what I see on the field, and the issues with his character, yes I'm going to assume he cheats. If that makes me a bad person, or judge-mental, so be it.

You were using Harrison as an example of the lax enforcement on the performance-enhancing drug testing policies of the NFL. Whether or not he takes them (or may ever be caught), the fact is, the league is one of the most oft tested and stringent in their testing of the major sports.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by waffle

I agree that the possibility exists that players in the NFL are getting away with PED usage (Brian Cushing)

Almost positive (pun intended) he was given a four game suspension for testing positive for a masking agent last year.