The NFL Players’ Association doesn’t believe the league is right to investigate the players named in a 2015 Al Jazeera documentary on performance-enhancing drugs, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“The NFL has chosen to initiate an investigation of these players based upon now-recanted statements that appeared in an Al Jazeera report,” stated the NFLPA, which added that the league “has decided to publicly pressure the players into submission. We will continue to advise our players about their rights and hold the NFL accountable.”
As the union alluded to, ex-Guyer Institute pharmacist Charlie Sly went back on claims that the institute supplied PEDs and-or painkillers to now-retired quarterback Peyton Manning, Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, Steelers linebacker James Harrison and former Packer and current free agent linebacker Mike Neal, but the league still plans to interview each of those individuals in the coming weeks. Harrison, for his part, isn’t exactly thrilled about it.
The league is likely to have difficulty finding “credible evidence” to punish anyone implicated in the documentary, as Florio details.
More from around the league:
- Attorney Bob Hinton has been removed from Johnny Manziel‘s legal defense team, according to publicist Denise C. Michaels (via Twitter). Last week, Hinton accidentally texted The Associated Press when he intended to communicate with a fellow member of Manziel’s counsel. “Heaven help us if one of the conditions [of a plea bargain] is to pee in a bottle,” Hinton wrote as part of a lengthy conversation in which he expressed major concerns about his client.In theory, Manziel could sue his now-former attorney for malpractice, according to Michael McCann of Sports Illustrated (on Twitter). In related news, Manziel’s father recently told one reporter that his son is a “druggie” and he hopes the free agent quarterback winds up in jail before he kills himself through substance abuse.
- Manziel, meanwhile, took a public jab at his father Tuesday in posting an Instagram photo of himself in Cabo with the hashtag #hiDad. The 23-year-old was wearing the jersey of friend and ex-teammate Josh Gordon – the troubled Browns receiver who is currently suspended – and made sure to clarify that Gordon wasn’t with him by using the hashtag #JoshAintHere. Gordon, who missed most of the 2014 campaign and all of last season because of multiple suspensions, is eligible to apply for reinstatement to the league Aug. 1.
- As of earlier Tuesday evening, Seahawks quarterback Trevone Boykin was reportedly facing up to a year in jail on one count of misdemeanor assault stemming from a December fight in San Antonio. However, Boykin’s agent, Drew Pittman, told the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta that the rookie has agreed to terms on a lesser charge and will be available for the start of training camp on July 30. The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that a plea deal is in the works (Twitter links here).
- Mike Singletary said Tuesday that he’ll serve in an advisory role with the Rams this year, but nothing has been finalized, reports Ed Werder of ESPN (Twitter link). As of now, Singletary and head coach Jeff Fisher are in the discussion phase, per Werder.
- Tuesday was one to forget for the league, which lost legendary defensive mind Buddy Ryan at age 85 and former Colts running back Zurlon Tipton at 26.
- In lighter news, Seattle inked star receiver Doug Baldwin to a four-year extension on Tuesday.
Zach Links contributed to this post.