I'd almost say I'm surprised more players don't get caught, but I suspect they are ahead of the testing curve. I'm sure at least 85% of players are on something.I'd be lying if I said I was shocked.Wouldn't really be a big surprise.
I'd almost say I'm surprised more players don't get caught, but I suspect they are ahead of the testing curve. I'm sure at least 85% of players are on something.I'd be lying if I said I was shocked.Wouldn't really be a big surprise.
I agreeKickers bringing the percentage down?I'd almost say I'm surprised more players don't get caught, but I suspect they are ahead of the testing curve. I'm sure at least 85% of players are on something.I'd be lying if I said I was shocked.Wouldn't really be a big surprise.

I agree as well. Especially HGH since they can't test for it.I'd almost say I'm surprised more players don't get caught, but I suspect they are ahead of the testing curve. I'm sure at least 85% of players are on something.I'd be lying if I said I was shocked.Wouldn't really be a big surprise.
I agree
4 NFL games is = to 40 MLB games. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but he will lose 1/4 of his salary for this year as well.Is it just me, or is 4 games way too light for Roids? I don't understand why the NFL does not differentiate performance enhancers from other narcotics/drugs/alcohol????
Yes, at 11:37 Adam Schefter reported that the NFL still hadn't announced the suspension.At 11:50, the NFL announced the suspension.Merriman supposedly has a statement prepared about it. I'm curious to hear his story.Marty has his normal Monday press conference at 1:15 today.Confirmation just made by NFL now.
Two choices here. Blame someone/something else or come clean and admit that he's guilty.Merriman supposedly has a statement prepared about it. I'm curious to hear his story.
They should test Matt BryantKickers bringing the percentage down?I'd almost say I'm surprised more players don't get caught, but I suspect they are ahead of the testing curve. I'm sure at least 85% of players are on something.I'd be lying if I said I was shocked.Wouldn't really be a big surprise.
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It's not just you, I've said the same thing... but to be honest, I think they have differentiated Steroids from narcotics/drugs/alcohol. For your first strike on normal drugs, I think you just get warned and tested more regularly (put in the substance abuse program)- you don't start missing games until your second strike, and then you miss the season on your third strike. With steroids and supplements, you get an automatic 4-game suspension (i.e. no first strike), although with the second strike it only escalates to 8 games instead of the full season.Where I think they need to differentiate is between supplements and outright steroids. Sauerbrun gets caught using Ephedra, which may be banned, but is only a weight-loss supplement, and as far as I can tell the only reason it was banned was because Korey Stringer died while using it (not because it gives a performance advantage). On the other hand, Merriman gets caught using "real steroids"... and yet both players face the exact same suspension? I don't get it. Sauerbrun deserved his 4-game suspension for breaking the rules, but Merriman's rulebreaking was far more malicious, and had far more impact on "purity of the game".In Olympic sports, the first positive steroid test gets you banned for two years, and the second gives you a lifetime ban. That might be a little bit too harsh for the NFL, but I'd like to see an 8-game suspension for first-time offenders (which would be the largest suspension the NFL had ever doled out for a single offense, iirc), and then a 2-year ban if they repeat, and a lifetime ban if their career somehow survives and they still don't learn their lesson.Is it just me, or is 4 games way too light for Roids? I don't understand why the NFL does not differentiate performance enhancers from other narcotics/drugs/alcohol????
I heard on the radio from Chris Colston (sp) of Sports Weekly that Merriman doesn't have an agent and some of the delay comes from Merriman trying to line up representation for this.Yes, at 11:37 Adam Schefter reported that the NFL still hadn't announced the suspension.At 11:50, the NFL announced the suspension.Merriman supposedly has a statement prepared about it. I'm curious to hear his story.Marty has his normal Monday press conference at 1:15 today.Confirmation just made by NFL now.
Two choices here. Blame someone/something else or come clean and admit that he's guilty.Merriman supposedly has a statement prepared about it. I'm curious to hear his story.
He said he couldnt answer the questions that are out there as to what the susbtance he is accused of but as soon as he can he will say a lot more but he did say he feels he didnt do anything wrong.He said he has a lot more to say but he cant at this time because of the NFL agreement and he hopes people dont come to a judgement before the facts are out.He has appologized to his teammates for the distraction and said he is focused on the Rams this week.Looks like he will play against the Rams at this time.
I thought he was handled by the Postons. That's who took care of his contract for him last year, and I never heard of any parting-of-the-ways.Phase of the Game said:I heard on the radio from Chris Colston (sp) of Sports Weekly that Merriman doesn't have an agent and some of the delay comes from Merriman trying to line up representation for this.
I think they parted ways.I thought he was handled by the Postons. That's who took care of his contract for him last year, and I never heard of any parting-of-the-ways.Phase of the Game said:I heard on the radio from Chris Colston (sp) of Sports Weekly that Merriman doesn't have an agent and some of the delay comes from Merriman trying to line up representation for this.
Link? I've been searching for the past twenty minutes and can't find anything. Are you sure you're not thinking of when he fired Gary Wichard after the draft?I think they parted ways.I thought he was handled by the Postons. That's who took care of his contract for him last year, and I never heard of any parting-of-the-ways.Phase of the Game said:I heard on the radio from Chris Colston (sp) of Sports Weekly that Merriman doesn't have an agent and some of the delay comes from Merriman trying to line up representation for this.
denial is a river in EgyptMerriman claims he did nothing wrong - that there is a flaw in the system.He practiced today and apparently said he expects to play against the Rams on Sunday.![]()
I'm sure I'm thinking of the Postons, not Wichard, but I can't give you a link to my car radio from today at lunch.Link? I've been searching for the past twenty minutes and can't find anything. Are you sure you're not thinking of when he fired Gary Wichard after the draft?I think they parted ways.I thought he was handled by the Postons. That's who took care of his contract for him last year, and I never heard of any parting-of-the-ways.Phase of the Game said:I heard on the radio from Chris Colston (sp) of Sports Weekly that Merriman doesn't have an agent and some of the delay comes from Merriman trying to line up representation for this.

you were having a great time watching him b/c he did steroids.bottom line is he's not really as good as he's been this year.This is too bad. I was having a great time watching him this season. stupid decision on his part.
Merriman has been near unstopable this season and this goes a long way to explaining why.As for the idea that 60% of the league abuses rhoids, I gotta disagree. These guys get tested ALOT and they would all get caught eventually if that were the case.Last, a 4 game suspention means this is his 2nd violation (unless the rules are different for rhoids than other banned stuff).They were very specific to say it was rhoids and not some supplement - so I doubt this is true.From another board: Supposedly Merriman without knowledge of it took a supplement that had nandralone in it. What merriman might do is take the supplement to the NFL to be tested.(I don't know what the "without knowledge of it" modifies -- he didn't know he took the supplement, or he took a supplement that he didn't know had nandrolone in it. Probably the latter.)
If what he took contained nandrolone, that doesn't appear to be contradictory. He tested positive for a steroid, and nandrolone qualifies. I think the distinction they were trying to draw by saying "it was rhoids and not some supplement", is that he didn't test positive for something like androstene, which isn't a steroid, but leads to increased testosterone production. That's my interpretation, anyway. Nandrolone, AFAIK, is an actual steroid.They were very specific to say it was rhoids and not some supplement - so I doubt this is true.From another board: Supposedly Merriman without knowledge of it took a supplement that had nandralone in it. What merriman might do is take the supplement to the NFL to be tested.(I don't know what the "without knowledge of it" modifies -- he didn't know he took the supplement, or he took a supplement that he didn't know had nandrolone in it. Probably the latter.)
This from the above MT post says volumes. Sounds like maybe ESPN is making this into another TO OD style witch hunt. I notice their bottom line has changed considerably throughout the night."That's why this is such an evil process," the attorney said. "He has been playing, unwittingly, Russian roulette with his career because he's been taking the same supplements, and it has been subjected to testing, and hasn't yielded a positive test. So he thought the supplements that he was taking were safe."
I don't know what difference it makes, though. The NFL has a list of "approved" supplements that players are allowed to take, and if Merriman goesFrom another board: Supposedly Merriman without knowledge of it took a supplement that had nandralone in it. What merriman might do is take the supplement to the NFL to be tested.(I don't know what the "without knowledge of it" modifies -- he didn't know he took the supplement, or he took a supplement that he didn't know had nandrolone in it. Probably the latter.)
ing to them, saying that he took an unapproved supplement that had steroids in it, but he didn't know that it had steroids in it, I suspect the league would just say
. There's an approved supplement list for a reason- so the NFL can regulate what goes into those supplements. I seriously hope that Merriman isn't going to go to the office and whine about the fact that his unapproved supplement wasn't regulated.Now, if he takes an APPROVED supplement to them and it tests positive for steroids, and he can somehow manage to prove that he hasn't tampered with the supplement and added the steroids himself, then maybe he has a leg to stand on... but my mother always said that if ifs and buts were candy and nuts then every day would be Christmas.I'm hoping that Merriman's appeal takes 3 weeks before it gets shot down, so that he'll be forced to miss BOTH Denver games.Also, you'll all forgive me for not believing Merriman is innocent. Somehow I can't bring myself to accept the fact that there's this secret conspiracy by those in power, and that every athlete that tests positive for steroids was really innocent all along.
One last thing- if Merriman gets off the hook for testing positive for steroids like Castillo did, I'm going to be genuinely upset. The NFL might just want to send all athletes engraved invitations to tell their agents to tamper with their supplements without their knowledge, because apparently ignorance is now an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules.I don't get it? Steroids users don't like working out? Steroids users don't care about homeless orphans? What does any of this have to do with whether or not he's likely to use steroids?I get it. He's a nice guy. I know plenty of nice guys. I know a guy who took an entire semester off of school and went up to New Orleans and volunteered for 6 months helping rebuild after Katrina. Really a great guy. He still cheated on his economics final, though.I read an article about him in The Sporting News, and he seems like the kind of guy who doesn't want to use roids to get better. The man apparently works out in his living room while watching NFL Network or ESPN, and loves building muscle, however he does not show the normal signs of someone who is using steroids - that is, he is very smart, makes sound decisions, and is a very nice human being (in the article it stated how while in college he discovered that an orphanage was out of money and closing down, so the children in it were going to be put on the street, so he donated $7,500 of his own money - keep in mind he was raised on the streets as well - and started a charity event to keep the money going, then went to the mayor to raise it as a political issue and get more people and money involved). Honestly, I have tons of respect for the man and wish him the best, I do believe him when he says he's innocent.
I don't either. But the fact that he hasn't yet been suspended suggests that it might make a difference. Or maybe the delay is just procedural. I don't know.I don't know what difference it makes, though.
I'm with you on that. I'd like to get Shaun Phillips back before Merriman is lost.I'm hoping that Merriman's appeal takes 3 weeks before it gets shot down, so that he'll be forced to miss BOTH Denver games.
I suspect that the guys who test positive are more likely to be "innocent" (in the sense of not purposely doing steroids) than many of the guys who pass all their tests. The guys who are guilty use masking agents or other methods of avoiding detection. The guys who don't avoid detection are more likely to be in the accidental supplement-taking group.Somehow I can't bring myself to accept the fact that there's this secret conspiracy by those in power, and that every athlete that tests positive for steroids was really innocent all along.![]()
Castillo did not plead ignorance. Unlike Merriman, Castillo stuck a needle in his butt. He cheated on purpose. (He was trying to recover from an injury so he could work out at the combine.)One last thing- if Merriman gets off the hook for testing positive for steroids like Castillo did, I'm going to be genuinely upset. The NFL might just want to send all athletes engraved invitations to tell their agents to tamper with their supplements without their knowledge, because apparently ignorance is now an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules.
My point was more that he got completely off the hook. I mean, there really weren't *ANY* repercussions to his taking steriods with full knowledge and intent. If anything, he was REWARDED for taking steroids, because no way would he have been a first-round selection if he'd blown at the combine.If the NFL wants to point at itself and say that it's the last bastion of clean play, then they're going to need to actually... you know... have some consequences when people take steroids.Castillo did not plead ignorance. Unlike Merriman, Castillo stuck a needle in his butt. He cheated on purpose. (He was trying to recover from an injury so he could work out at the combine.)One last thing- if Merriman gets off the hook for testing positive for steroids like Castillo did, I'm going to be genuinely upset. The NFL might just want to send all athletes engraved invitations to tell their agents to tamper with their supplements without their knowledge, because apparently ignorance is now an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules.
Who should have punished him? As far as I know, the NCAA doesn't have a doping agecny. Certainly the NFL can't suspend him for something he did many months before getting drafted, much less signing an official contract. His actions weren't illegal, so this wasn't a police matter. I agree that it seems a shame that he "got away with it," but what could have been done?My point was more that he got completely off the hook. I mean, there really weren't *ANY* repercussions to his taking steriods with full knowledge and intent. If anything, he was REWARDED for taking steroids, because no way would he have been a first-round selection if he'd blown at the combine.If the NFL wants to point at itself and say that it's the last bastion of clean play, then they're going to need to actually... you know... have some consequences when people take steroids.Castillo did not plead ignorance. Unlike Merriman, Castillo stuck a needle in his butt. He cheated on purpose. (He was trying to recover from an injury so he could work out at the combine.)One last thing- if Merriman gets off the hook for testing positive for steroids like Castillo did, I'm going to be genuinely upset. The NFL might just want to send all athletes engraved invitations to tell their agents to tamper with their supplements without their knowledge, because apparently ignorance is now an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules.
How does a college student who was raised on the streets have $7500 laying around to help out charities? Hmmm.....I read an article about him in The Sporting News, and he seems like the kind of guy who doesn't want to use roids to get better. The man apparently works out in his living room while watching NFL Network or ESPN, and loves building muscle, however he does not show the normal signs of someone who is using steroids - that is, he is very smart, makes sound decisions, and is a very nice human being (in the article it stated how while in college he discovered that an orphanage was out of money and closing down, so the children in it were going to be put on the street, so he donated $7,500 of his own money - keep in mind he was raised on the streets as well - and started a charity event to keep the money going, then went to the mayor to raise it as a political issue and get more people and money involved). Honestly, I have tons of respect for the man and wish him the best, I do believe him when he says he's innocent.
The original poster is mistaken. Merriman broke out his checkbook and kept the homeless shelter open in San Diego last winter. While Merriman was in college, he used his name and his celebrity to organize a coat donation drive for needy kids. Merriman understood what it was like as a kid to be cold and homeless because his house burned down THREE times. His charity work is unquestioned and he has been a model citizen in the community no matter where he has been. To clarrify, here's the story on Merriman's contribution ot the homeless shelter while a Charger and not an NCAA athlete.'Lights Out' helps keep lights on at shelterHow does a college student who was raised on the streets have $7500 laying around to help out charities? Hmmm.....I read an article about him in The Sporting News, and he seems like the kind of guy who doesn't want to use roids to get better. The man apparently works out in his living room while watching NFL Network or ESPN, and loves building muscle, however he does not show the normal signs of someone who is using steroids - that is, he is very smart, makes sound decisions, and is a very nice human being (in the article it stated how while in college he discovered that an orphanage was out of money and closing down, so the children in it were going to be put on the street, so he donated $7,500 of his own money - keep in mind he was raised on the streets as well - and started a charity event to keep the money going, then went to the mayor to raise it as a political issue and get more people and money involved). Honestly, I have tons of respect for the man and wish him the best, I do believe him when he says he's innocent.
You really don't believe that the Broncos are steroid free do you? Time to stop being naive and realize that most of the players in the NFL have used them at some point to get where they are.SSOG said:My point was more that he got completely off the hook. I mean, there really weren't *ANY* repercussions to his taking steriods with full knowledge and intent. If anything, he was REWARDED for taking steroids, because no way would he have been a first-round selection if he'd blown at the combine.If the NFL wants to point at itself and say that it's the last bastion of clean play, then they're going to need to actually... you know... have some consequences when people take steroids.Maurile Tremblay said:Castillo did not plead ignorance. Unlike Merriman, Castillo stuck a needle in his butt. He cheated on purpose. (He was trying to recover from an injury so he could work out at the combine.)One last thing- if Merriman gets off the hook for testing positive for steroids like Castillo did, I'm going to be genuinely upset. The NFL might just want to send all athletes engraved invitations to tell their agents to tamper with their supplements without their knowledge, because apparently ignorance is now an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules.
SD Tribune says his appeal is for Nov 7 and he remains eligible for next 2 games. Also says Philips may be back in 2 weeks!!!!!!
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/charg...s24chnotes.html
He should be suspended now!!!!!I understand the skepticism, but you have to at least consider the possibility that Merriman did not intentionally use steroids. Perhaps he'll be suspended anyway, b/c ignorance isn't an excuse, but that's far from the picture you're painting here.I'm guessing this isn't the first drug test Merriman has taken - chances are he was tested at the combine and at least once last year. Apparently he was clean then, while being dominant and making the Pro Bowl. Why in the world would he knowingly start using this year after all of his success while being clean?Doesn't make sense.SSOG said:I don't get it? Steroids users don't like working out? Steroids users don't care about homeless orphans? What does any of this have to do with whether or not he's likely to use steroids?I get it. He's a nice guy. I know plenty of nice guys. I know a guy who took an entire semester off of school and went up to New Orleans and volunteered for 6 months helping rebuild after Katrina. Really a great guy. He still cheated on his economics final, though.Phlash said:I read an article about him in The Sporting News, and he seems like the kind of guy who doesn't want to use roids to get better. The man apparently works out in his living room while watching NFL Network or ESPN, and loves building muscle, however he does not show the normal signs of someone who is using steroids - that is, he is very smart, makes sound decisions, and is a very nice human being (in the article it stated how while in college he discovered that an orphanage was out of money and closing down, so the children in it were going to be put on the street, so he donated $7,500 of his own money - keep in mind he was raised on the streets as well - and started a charity event to keep the money going, then went to the mayor to raise it as a political issue and get more people and money involved). Honestly, I have tons of respect for the man and wish him the best, I do believe him when he says he's innocent.
Ignoring the lawyer's foolish back alley statement "like that would ever happen"....NFLPA does research and decides what's good and not good for a player's body. His union dues, he pays for that research. He pays for them to look out for his best interest. He needs to be more aware of what he puts in his body.Lawyer: Merriman drug test stems from supplementSAN DIEGO // Shawne Merriman's attorney said the Chargers' outside linebacker failed a drug test because of a tainted supplement and will continue to play while appealing his four-game suspension.
Attorney David Cornwell said he believed Merriman tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, which is prohibited under the NFL's substance abuse policy. Cornwell said the substance was in a supplement Merriman has been taking.
"He did not go into the back alley somewhere and put a needle in his butt for steroids," Cornwell said at a news conference Monday, about two hours after Merriman practiced with the Chargers a day after their 30-27 loss at Kansas City.**snip** full article above
Why is the NFL willing to hear an appeal?On the field, certain calls are not reviewable, and the coaches can't challenge them. If the refs are willing to entertain a coach's challenge, it's because the play is reviewable -- i.e., debatable.Do you think the drug suspension process is different from that?It's not debatable.
yepI think it's a chance for some dope to stand on a "soap box" on behalf of the player. I don't have any stats but it feels like 1 in 100 get overturned. IIRC Henry and Ricky have lost a couple each. Yet when the appeal comes up there's always someone that is all on their soap box preaching. Unless there's some tainted test kit or sample bottle, all I see it doing is putting the player under more scrutiny.Remember LT won an appeal once then in the offseason wrote his book how he used a visine bottle containing pee to beat his test+how it sounded real to the guy standing behind him right outside the stall. The process has been dead serious ever since. The other thing to keep in mind is his NFLPA reps are the ones that agree to the banned substance list. Player goes in thinking they're on his side. For a day, they're not, in some ways. They don't want their list to be BS, they stand by their research and decision. They almost "set the table" for the player to even be there.Why is the NFL willing to hear an appeal?On the field, certain calls are not reviewable, and the coaches can't challenge them. If the refs are willing to entertain a coach's challenge, it's because the play is reviewable -- i.e., debatable.Do you think the drug suspension process is different from that?It's not debatable.
Oh yeah, that's right. Boy, I sure wish Denver had some help on the defensive side, because we're really struggling back there.Harry Beanbag said:Side note, sounds like SSOG is a bit butt hurt that both San Diego's first round draft picks in 2005 turned out to be pretty good players and are both now linked to 'roid use. Also sounds like he is a bit miffed that the Broncos didn't have a first round pick in 2005 and would have given his first born to have either one of these players on his team.
I'd take Denver's 2005 2nd and 3rd rounder over San Diego's two first-rounders.
Of course not. I just think that if the NFL really wants to pretend it's better than baseball, it needs to bring the hammer down.You really don't believe that the Broncos are steroid free do you? Time to stop being naive and realize that most of the players in the NFL have used them at some point to get where they are.
I think that's hardly the only possibility. As has been mentioned, the cheaters take masking agents. Maybe he's been taking steroids for years, and this is just the first time his masking agent didn't cover it.I understand the skepticism, but you have to at least consider the possibility that Merriman did not intentionally use steroids. Perhaps he'll be suspended anyway, b/c ignorance isn't an excuse, but that's far from the picture you're painting here.I'm guessing this isn't the first drug test Merriman has taken - chances are he was tested at the combine and at least once last year. Apparently he was clean then, while being dominant and making the Pro Bowl. Why in the world would he knowingly start using this year after all of his success while being clean?Doesn't make sense.
I tend to agree. Appeals are just for show. I remember a Gerard Warren quote where he got fined, and he said he was appealing even though he knew he was guilty and going to lose, just because it was his right as a player.yepI think it's a chance for some dope to stand on a "soap box" on behalf of the player. I don't have any stats but it feels like 1 in 100 get overturned. IIRC Henry and Ricky have lost a couple each. Yet when the appeal comes up there's always someone that is all on their soap box preaching. Unless there's some tainted test kit or sample bottle, all I see it doing is putting the player under more scrutiny.Remember LT won an appeal once then in the offseason wrote his book how he used a visine bottle containing pee to beat his test+how it sounded real to the guy standing behind him right outside the stall. The process has been dead serious ever since. The other thing to keep in mind is his NFLPA reps are the ones that agree to the banned substance list. Player goes in thinking they're on his side. For a day, they're not, in some ways. They don't want their list to be BS, they stand by their research and decision. They almost "set the table" for the player to even be there.Why is the NFL willing to hear an appeal?On the field, certain calls are not reviewable, and the coaches can't challenge them. If the refs are willing to entertain a coach's challenge, it's because the play is reviewable -- i.e., debatable.Do you think the drug suspension process is different from that?
I imagine part of his argument is that he has taken the same OTC supplement for x years and had no positive test. However, the batch that he is now taking (which are not FDA regulated), was tainted. If he can prove through an independent lab that this is the case, I think he will have a strong argument.yepI think it's a chance for some dope to stand on a "soap box" on behalf of the player. I don't have any stats but it feels like 1 in 100 get overturned. IIRC Henry and Ricky have lost a couple each. Yet when the appeal comes up there's always someone that is all on their soap box preaching. Unless there's some tainted test kit or sample bottle, all I see it doing is putting the player under more scrutiny.Remember LT won an appeal once then in the offseason wrote his book how he used a visine bottle containing pee to beat his test+how it sounded real to the guy standing behind him right outside the stall. The process has been dead serious ever since. The other thing to keep in mind is his NFLPA reps are the ones that agree to the banned substance list. Player goes in thinking they're on his side. For a day, they're not, in some ways. They don't want their list to be BS, they stand by their research and decision. They almost "set the table" for the player to even be there.Why is the NFL willing to hear an appeal?On the field, certain calls are not reviewable, and the coaches can't challenge them. If the refs are willing to entertain a coach's challenge, it's because the play is reviewable -- i.e., debatable.Do you think the drug suspension process is different from that?It's not debatable.
could be, just to clarify, that's not disagreeing with meI imagine part of his argument is that he has taken the same OTC supplement for x years and had no positive test. However, the batch that he is now taking (which are not FDA regulated), was tainted. If he can prove through an independent lab that this is the case, I think he will have a strong argument.yepI think it's a chance for some dope to stand on a "soap box" on behalf of the player. I don't have any stats but it feels like 1 in 100 get overturned. IIRC Henry and Ricky have lost a couple each. Yet when the appeal comes up there's always someone that is all on their soap box preaching. Unless there's some tainted test kit or sample bottle, all I see it doing is putting the player under more scrutiny.Remember LT won an appeal once then in the offseason wrote his book how he used a visine bottle containing pee to beat his test+how it sounded real to the guy standing behind him right outside the stall. The process has been dead serious ever since. The other thing to keep in mind is his NFLPA reps are the ones that agree to the banned substance list. Player goes in thinking they're on his side. For a day, they're not, in some ways. They don't want their list to be BS, they stand by their research and decision. They almost "set the table" for the player to even be there.Why is the NFL willing to hear an appeal?On the field, certain calls are not reviewable, and the coaches can't challenge them. If the refs are willing to entertain a coach's challenge, it's because the play is reviewable -- i.e., debatable.Do you think the drug suspension process is different from that?It's not debatable.