And hundreds of posts on how HGH doesn't work...go!

So are NFL writers going to be pricks to players from this era like baseball writers have been? I mean, Clay Matthews may play a HOF-level career, but he played college ball with known PED user Brian Cushing, so HOW DO WE KNOW? Did Mathews stand up and say something about PED use at the time? What is to explain how a former walk-on becomes a Pro Bowl NFL linebacker? QUESTIONS ABOUND.

This is a really big deal, and it's not the hGH component. MLB is finally instituting longitudinal testing which, while imperfect, represents a quantum leap forward in anti-doping efforts. Prior to this, the testing regime was beginning to get calcified, as it was geared towards "steroid era" PED usage. Strong drug testing protects the integrity of the game by keeping public trust and attempting to keep a level, natural playing field.

This is really big, welcome news.

So are NFL writers going to be pricks to players from this era like baseball writers have been? I mean, Clay Matthews may play a HOF-level career, but he played college ball with known PED user Brian Cushing, so HOW DO WE KNOW? Did Mathews stand up and say something about PED use at the time? What is to explain how a former walk-on becomes a Pro Bowl NFL linebacker? QUESTIONS ABOUND.

There's at least one possible Hall-of-Famer who was suspended for PED use a decade ago. I wonder if anyone even notices when he hits the ballot.

It also helps if it makes trying to cheat more trouble than it's worth.

It seems like MLB is striking a good balance with aggressive testing and firm, but not death penalty level punishment.

There's at least one possible Hall-of-Famer who was suspended for PED use a decade ago. I wonder if anyone even notices when he hits the ballot.

Who is this? Shawn Merriman?

Julius Peppers?

There's at least one possible Hall-of-Famer who was suspended for PED use a decade ago. I wonder if anyone even notices when he hits the ballot.

The other night, Fergie Jenkins (I think) added credence to the rumor that there's an HOF-inducted juicer who played in the 80's and 90's. I think Robothal or Olney reported something similar a few years back, too.

So are NFL writers going to be pricks to players from this era like baseball writers have been?

Doubt it; isn't is just assumed that the vast majority of football players are juicing, one way or another?

Doubt it; isn't is just assumed that the vast majority of football players are juicing, one way or another?

Presumably steroids make them able to hit each other harder and more often.

In baseball, some cheaters break some records, and there's not enough ink to write about it.
In football, some cheaters contribute to brain damage and death, and there's not a word said about it.

In baseball, some cheaters break some records, and there's not enough ink to write about it.
In football, some cheaters contribute to brain damage and death, and there's not a word said about it.

It seems like offensive records in the NFL are being broken every year.

Football isn't sport, it is gladiator arena modern style. If a few guys die at a young age or are disabled so be it. Drugs? Who cares. As I recall someone won rookie of the year, was found to have used drugs, they did a re-vote and he won again. Football writers/fans/owners and even players don't seem to care much about drug use in that sport. They do some testing but I suspect it is more like the initial MLB drug testing - a cloak to say 'we are doing it' when they really aren't.

I really, really hope someone who is in the HOF will just admit to using steroids and get the whole 'we must not let them in' thing over with. We'd have one or two more years of it but at least we'd see an end in sight. Instead we can expect moralizing for the next decade I suspect.

The other night, Fergie Jenkins (I think) added credence to the rumor that there's an HOF-inducted juicer who played in the 80's and 90's.

He did no such thing. He merely repeated the rumor.

He did no such thing. He merely repeated the rumor.

Jenkins gave credence in the sense that he explained that it's been a topic of discussion amongst Hall of Famers (again, one 80s+90s player in particular), and he did not exactly go out of his way to dispel it.

I wonder if they had to wait until Marvin Miller passed away?

If they actually wanted to remove players from the HOF for Steroid use, there would be more than a few Steelers that would be removed. I think it was said during the 70's the whole O-line was jucing.

In baseball, some cheaters break some records, and there's not enough ink to write about it.
In football, some cheaters contribute to brain damage and death, and there's not a word said about it.

No one cares about football players beyond how they played last Sunday.

OTOH, the single-season and career HR records are sacrosanct.

There isn't anyone who has sat on the Football HOF selection committee and has a HOF vote, is there?

I think it would be very interesting to have some sort of sportswriter roundtable about PEDs that features HOF voters from both sports.

#13 Junior Seau suffered a debilitating brain disease likely caused by two decades worth of hits to the head.