League Admits It Didn't Suspend Other Starcaps Users
by TheViking83 on Mar 10, 2010 8:21 AM CST
Email
PrintAn excerpt from the article reads:
And though there had been prior indications that the allegation of disparate treatment was correct, the man responsible for implementing and overseeing the league's steroids policy admitted while testifying on Tuesday that, indeed, suspension were not imposed on multiple players. Specifically, Dr. John Lombardo testified that more than six players who tested positive for diuretics from 2005 to 2007 were not punished, per the Associated Press.
Lombardo really had no choice. Last month, Judge Gary Larson acknowledged these facts in a 44-page written ruling regarding various claims in the case, a copy of which we obtained at the time. "The NFL and Dr. Lombardo knew, in 2006, that at least some StarCaps capsules contained Bumetanide," Judge Larson wrote. "Indeed, when several players tested positive for Bumetanide after taking StarCaps in 2006, Dr. Lombardo and the NFL asked Aegis Sciences Corporation, an independent laboratory, to analyze StarCaps. These players were placed on reasonable cause testing rather than suspended four games."
Read the full article here
Having previously been an attorney, Mike Florio from ProFootballTalk has had terrific insight on this ongoing story since it's original developments. His take is always interesting to read because he is able to provide much more expertise than any other NFL reporter. Now that this trial has FINALLY begun, the NFL is openly admitting to a lot of wrong doing in it's front office, and this most recent development is a big help for the Williams Wall. Kevin Williams has already started his testimony (read about it here) and will be cross-examined by NFL lawyers today. The presumption is that Pat will take the stand immediately following Kevin.
I think the case is really starting to shape up in the Williams' favor, and Florio agrees, so this is all good news for our beloved Vikes.
This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.
22 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
This is a big deal
This is a big deal because it is evidence that the NFL acted in an arbitrary manner.
This could blow open the whole case.
Read this riveting article on how Kevin Williams got humiliated by the NFL. It makes me want to go down to league headquarters and hold a protest. Those creeps really screwed our guy Kevin Williams. I hope the NFL pays a heavy price for the garbage they have pulled.
Yeah I think that about finished it
the whole ‘We are only punishing THESE players, as opposed to those ones back a couple years ago’. . . but it makes sense for the NFL to do this, because its the Not Fair League. I mean, hell, just look at all the tampering going on. The NFL doesn’t care anymore, but they sure as hell won’t give the 49’ers their draft picks back for that stupid Briggs’ fiasco. And they certainly weren’t the only team to have engaged in it in that year, let alone the more recent ones.
So I’m not surprised the NFL is picking and choosing who gets punished, rather than arbitrarily punishing teams across the board, or just doing away with the rule itself.
I think the bigger issue is Why didn't the NFL tell the players about StarCaps?
They have not adequately answered that question. Now that the facts are out that other players had tested positive for the same drug their previous answer just doesn’t cut it. I am assuming they are not required to tell the Players Union what they found but wouldn’t that have been the smartest thing. Like simply do whats right for the players and the league?
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Mar 10, 2010 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
It's really simple actually
They wanted to try and catch players who were “cheating” more than they wanted to inform players about a potential product.
They knew that the substance in question (bumetanide) was a masking agent for steroids. While this is true most testing labs said that it is easily detectable and would be a “stupid” masking agent to utilize.
I predict that in the end the Judge will say that the league did NOT violate the State testing laws and that the Williams do fall under the state regulations and that they should change the next CBA to include a provision where the players agree to one standard test regardless of the state laws where they play and that the players in question cannot be suspended because the league did not act in good faith in protecting the players against harmful substances.
If they applied, certain rights rights under state law might be something that no contract could bargain away.
by medicineball on Mar 10, 2010 12:26 PM CST up reply actions
That was the issue wasn't it?
If the players are employees of the NFL (as well as the Vikings) then the League must follow the State laws of the players team. This question hasn’t been addressed in this trial yet. But my understanding is that no employer can bargain away its obligations under State statutes. The league is arguing that the players are employees only of the team and that the stricter state law of Minnesota does not apply to the NFL because they aren’t the employer. At least I think that is what is being argued.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Mar 10, 2010 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
If that were the truth then each team could make their own rules no?
That could in fact make an even slippier slope for the NFL in the future.
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
I don't think so.
If all of the State laws apply then the NFL (just like every multi-state employer) would need to have notification rules that match the State where the employee works. Ford does it, GE does it, along with evry large corporation. Follow the drug notification laws of the state where the employee works. Is that harder? Yes. Is it really hard? No. Is it any more of a difficult employee issue than any HR department faces? No.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Mar 10, 2010 12:48 PM CST up reply actions
I was more looking to the fact that as employees of the teams instead of the NFL
What has a higher authority on the player. Could a team modify it’s by laws to allow their players more lee way to do certain things… As long as the NFL is the grand poo ba everything should be fair. As this changes you might see some interesting results. (like everyone in Oakland has to rub Al Davis’s bunions to get a raise.)
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
No. Remember everything is done through the CBA.
Minimum testing is laid out in the CBA, I think. Each team doesn’t have the right to change the minimum standards.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Mar 10, 2010 1:25 PM CST up reply actions
another possibility
“Is it really hard?” Yes, and there should be a simpler, federal law in this area to make it less expensive to hire an employee. But that is getting off topic.
by medicineball on Mar 10, 2010 1:19 PM CST up reply actions
Not everyone thinks States Rights should be overturned by Federal Laws.
But my your right. We are off topic.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Mar 10, 2010 1:26 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
we fought a war over this already
i think the federales won, but im not sure.
Lurking since 2006
by boyonthedock on Mar 10, 2010 5:20 PM CST up reply actions
By the way
The NFL also screwed Pat Williams, and there is some evidence to suggest that they screwed Erin Henderson.
Is that a fringe benefit ( getting screwed) only resevered for the Vikings?
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Mar 10, 2010 12:32 PM CST up reply actions
I feel something like this only adds to my conspiracy theory that football is fixed.
by Stay classy, Joe. on Mar 10, 2010 1:54 PM CST reply actions
Yeah that Saints winning the Superbowl was rigged. How else could the Vikings have lost the NFC Championship Game.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Mar 10, 2010 3:14 PM CST up reply actions
It doesn’t only apply to the vikings. The NFL finds the best storyline and they make sure it happens. Quarterbacks deserving a superbowl, underdog victories, etc.
by Stay classy, Joe. on Mar 10, 2010 7:26 PM CST up reply actions
Great News.
NFL needs to come clean, and admit they are humans too that make mistakes also.
Brett Favre is the Greatest QB in NFL History!
Brett Favre will be back in 2010, 100% Guaranteed!
But they aren't humans,
they’re micromanaging, busybody bureaucrats. They enjoy making arcane rules and nitpicking every little facet of the game to the point of making the game more of a chore than a diversion for fans. Goodell is going to be the man who makes the league sink.
by Bodysuit Man on Mar 11, 2010 5:59 AM CST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
