League, Union Likely to Prohibit Pro Bowl Participation By Any Player Who Tests Positive for a Performance-Enhancing Drug
MIAMI--The league and the NFL Players Association apparently will enact a measure beginning next season that would ban a player from participating in the Pro Bowl if he is suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug that season.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and union chief Gene Upshaw said last week they were discussing such a measure. Upshaw said there was support for the proposal but there were potential complications because many players have clauses in their contracts tied to being selected for the Pro Bowl. But a league source said there is considerable support for the measure among the players.
San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was selected for next weekend's Pro Bowl after serving a four-game suspension this season for a positive test that he attributed to unknowingly ingesting a banned substance contained in a supplement he was taking. Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor said during the season that Merriman should be ineligible for consideration for the defensive player of the year award, which Taylor won.
By Mark Maske |
February 4, 2007; 5:07 PM ET
| Category:
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Posted by: Mike Wilson | February 6, 2007 9:04 AM
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1st time positive testing for use of any banned substance should result in a suspension of 16 regular season games. No participation in any NFL training regimen, mini camp or training camp during the period of suspension. No awards eligibility during any season that the suspension applies and participation in enhanced testing for 24 months following reinstatement.
The team should not be penalized by the salary cap for players suspended as it is assumed this action could result in the end of a players career. Imposing cap limits for these players may result in teams willing to apply benign management to players with a problem.