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Latest On Drug Policy Talks

September 10th, 2014 at 7:08pm CST by Luke Adams

7:08pm: The NFLPA hasn’t received the league’s response to the latest edits on the drug policy, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. With a game tomorrow, a vote amongst team reps is now unlikely before Friday.

1:43pm: There has been significant positive movement toward an agreement between the NFL and NFLPA on a new drug policy for the league, according to Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (Twitter link), who report that the league has dropped its request for discipline upon DUI arrests (without due process). The team player representatives are expected to spend the next 24 hours reviewing the details of the NFL’s latest proposal, and if all goes well, they should conduct a vote before Sunday (Twitter link).

While the DUI issue appears to have been tentatively resolved, there are still a couple areas of contention, according to Breer and Rapoport. The two sides have yet to agree upon the HGH testing protocol and neutral arbitration on appeals — the union’s lawyers flagged language in those two areas that had been modified in the league’s most recent proposal, and that was enough to force the team player reps to postpone a vote on whether or not to approve the new policy (Twitter links).

Still, there are a number of areas which have not been divisive and have essentially been agreed upon, including the idea of revisiting all player suspensions for the 2014 league year relating to the drug policy (Twitter link). If the new policy is approved this week, players like Wes Welker and Orlando Scandrick – who were suspended for 2014 violations – would likely be able to play as soon as this Sunday (Twitter link). Those suspensions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but Welker’s and Scandrick’s bans were based on a part of the policy which will be modified to make penalties less punitive, so they should be retroactively wiped out.

Of course, not all current suspensions will be so cut-and-dried; Breer and Rapoport point to Josh Gordon‘s case as one that will be a little more complicated (Twitter link). An agreement on a new drug policy would mean revisiting all suspensions levied since the new league year began on March 11, 2014, but while failed tests like Welker’s and Scandrick’s actually took place this year, Gordon failed his test last season. So even though the Browns wideout wasn’t disciplined until this year, the new policy may not apply to his suspension.

However, until a new plan is approved and until we hear exactly what it entails, we’re still in wait-and-see mode. For now, it appears that the NFLPA is moving toward voting on the NFL’s proposal, perhaps as early as tonight, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (Twitter link).

Latest On Drug Policy Talks

September 7th, 2014 at 10:20am CST by Ben Levine

SUNDAY, 10:20am: Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that the NFL and NFLPA moved farther apart in their drug policy talks on Saturday night. The earliest any deal could happen would be tomorrow or Tuesday, but this recent development could delay such an agreement. However, as Florio writes, “Look for the talks to continue and a deal to remain possible unless and until one side or the other completely shuts down the negotiation process.”

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, there would be a breakdown in the process if the the NFL insists on the right to discipline players for DUI arrests prior to due process in the legal system. If that happens, then the NFLPA will not agree to a comprehensive drug policy.

SATURDAY, 6:00pm: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk provides a handful of updates on the drug policy talks, writing that the league is proposing a one-game deactivation for any player or other team employee (including owners) who is arrested for DUI. In other words, an arrest without a conviction wouldn’t result in a suspension or lost pay, though the NFL would like first-time offenders to face a minimum two-game suspension after the conclusion of the legal process.

Per Florio (Twitter links), the ball is currently in the NFL’s court to respond to the NFLPA’s latest proposal, but a new agreement won’t be in place until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest, so any current suspensions will stand for this weekend at least.

SATURDAY, 11:50am: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the NFL and player’s union continue to work towards an agreement, and that Sunday is a soft deadline. Mark Maske of The Washington Post tweets that the two sides are trying to “complete something” today.

SATURDAY, 10:42am: We’ve heard whispers over the past couple of days that the NFL and the player’s union are diligently working on a new league drug policy. A league source tells Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that an announcement could come at any time.

As Florio writes, the agreement would focus on the NFL using players’ blood test to check for the use of human growth hormone. Additionally, there would be changes in the league’s substance-abuse policy; a positive marijuana test will now be based on a higher grading-scale (which could affect Browns wideout Josh Gordon). The league will also consider offseason use of amphetamines a violation of the substance-abuse policy (which could affect Broncos receiver Wes Welker).

Florio also reports that the two sides agreed on a new deal regarding human grown hormone appeals. Any appeal for a positive PED or HGH test will now be heard through a third-party arbitrator, as opposed to commissioner Roger Goodell. Florio writes that the league is requesting the right to suspend players arrested for DUIs before their legal cases are cleared up in court.

There were reports yesterday suggesting that the player’s union refused an offer from the NFL to erase Gordon’s suspension in exchange for a resolution on the HGH testing, and Florio clarifies those rumors. NFLPA spokesperson George Atallah told PFT that the deal was never offered:

“The union would never negotiate an entire substance-abuse policy or PED policy based on one player.”

Gordon, Welker Bans Could Be Reduced

September 5th, 2014 at 4:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

FRIDAY, 4:17pm: In a series of several tweets, Hill passes along the latest on the negotiations: Per multiple sources, there’s no chance anything gets finalized today, and the two sides still aren’t sure about the retroactive lifting of suspensions, and how it would apply to domestic violence incidents as well as drug-related penalties. One roadblock has been the NFL’s desire to suspend players immediately upon an arrest for suspicion of DUI, rather than a conviction, which the NFLPA doesn’t intend to agree to.

12:40pm: NFLPA executive George Atallah (on Twitter) says there’s no sense of urgency from the players’ side in overhauling the drug policies. In his estimation, it seems that the league is planting stories to infer that a deal is close.

11:25am: The league is now wary of opening up Pandora’s box by retroactively lifting suspensions, Hill tweets.

10:16am: Sources tell Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter) that the new drug policy is very close to getting done. When and if the new policy is enacted, Orlando Scandrick‘s suspension will be lifted immediately.

8:39am: Under the new proposed policy, the 29 players suspended for stimulants since 2011 would’ve been entered into a program without a suspension, Breer tweets. On the flip side, 22 players who were assessed five-figure fines for DUIs would’ve been suspended (link).

8:28am: NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith told 106.7 The Fan in Washington D.C. that he’d want all players busted during the 2014 league year to be penalized under the new rules, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. “If we get a deal done that covers players in this league year, I don’t like that we punish players under a deal active in the old league year,” Smith said (link).

Breer’s understanding (link) is that a revised policy would raise the threshold for an A sample on a marijuana test from 15 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml, the same threshold used by MLB and the military. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that Gordon’s failed drug test reportedly took place in the 2013 league year, so he wouldn’t necessarily be off the hook if the league and the NFLPA agreed to adjust the current drug policy (link).

THURSDAY: We learned earlier today that the while the league and the NFLPA have intensified talks regarding implementing HGH testing and overhauling the current drug policy, union president Eric Winston has cautioned that an agreement isn’t quite ready yet. If negotiations proceed quickly, two players affected by the policy — Josh Gordon and Wes Welker — might be able to return to the field soon, reports Mike Florio on NBC (link via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).

Per Florio, one alteration to the new policy would raise the THC threshold for triggering marijuana-related bans; Gordon, of course, was suspended for the 2014 season after his sample tested barely over the THC limit. Another change to the policy would transfer amphetamine use from the performance-enhancing umbrella to the substance-abuse realm. A first-time PED offense triggers an automatic four-game ban, while a substance-abuse incident does not.

If the proposed rule changes grandfathered in already-suspended players, Gordon, Welker, and others that are currently facing bans could return to action. In fact, Florio noted that if the deal between the NFL and the union gets done in the next few days (which is unlikely), the two star receivers could potentially play on Sunday. Welker, of course, might still be limited by his latest concussion, but nevertheless, it would be a stunning reversal of fortunes for the Broncos, Browns, and other teams who have lost key players to drug suspensions. It’s unclear if the suspensions would merely be lessened, or if they’d be vacated completely.

Meanwhile, Albert Breer of the NFL Network hears (Twitter link) that retroactive penalty changes aren’t what’s holding up discussions of a new deal — rather, DUI policy is the “[number one] hangup” in negotiations. We heard last week that commissioner Roger Goodell wants a mandatory de-activation and two-game suspension for DUI offenders, a stance the NFLPA has fought. Breer adds that Sunday is being treated as a “soft deadline” for talks, as union representatives probably don’t want negotiations dragging into the season.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Wes Welker Suspended For Four Games

September 2nd, 2014 at 9:32pm CST by Zachary Links

9:32pm: The league officially announced the suspension, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

9:18pm: Welker’s suspension will indeed go into effect immediately, meaning that he’ll be out of action this Sunday against the Colts, Klis tweets.

8:19pm: Because the suspension was announced so late in the week, the Broncos believe that Welker will be in action this Sunday against the Colts, tweets Klis. Whether that’s rooted in reality or simply wishful thinking on the Broncos’ part remains to be seen. Welker would also have to be medically cleared due to his concussions.

If Welker’s suspension does not go into effect this week but he’s still not medically cleared to play, that would actually be a worse outcome for the Broncos.

6:50pm: Welker was suspended for ADHD drug Adderall, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post. This doesn’t necessarily contradict Florio’s report since Adderall can be a stimulant packaged with MDMA. Also, it doesn’t matter much for Welker in the grand scheme of things since he has already lost his appeal.

6:00pm: Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker has been suspended four games for the use of amphetamines, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Welker appealed the suspension two weeks ago and all parties were notified today that he lost that appeal, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.Wes Welker (vertical)

A source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter) that Welker took “molly” at the Kentucky Derby, which resulted in the positive test. Florio adds that the drug was cut with with amphetamines, which would mean that Welker had taken ecstasy rather than molly. The situation is, of course, reminiscent of Orlando Scandrick‘s. The Cowboys cornerback reportedly took ecstasy while on vacation in Mexico this offseason and because the drug included amphetamines, his positive test put him in violation of the CBA’s performance enhancing drug policy rather than its recreational drug policy.

Even though it’s a four game suspension, Welker will have to wait until Week 6 to make his 2014 debut. The Broncos have a Week 5 bye, so Welker won’t be eligible to return until Denver’s game against the Jets on October 12th. The Broncos have known about Welker’s four game suspension since before camp but were holding out hope on his appeal, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

The Broncos could be on the lookout for outside help though they have plenty of receiving weapons already in-house. Peyton Manning will have free agent addition Emmanuel Sanders and promising rookie Cody Latimer at wide receiver while Julius Thomas and longtime teammate Jacob Tamme will be at tight end. Tamme sits behind Thomas on the depth chart, of course, but he could see some additional work while Welker is sidelined.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: HGH, Incognito, Jammer, Welker

August 26th, 2014 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

The NFL and the NFLPA have yet to come to an agreement on how to institute HGH testing for the league’s players, but according to a new survey conducted by ESPN, most players would be willing to sign off on HGH testing in exchange for guaranteed contracts.

As Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com details, 82 current players were asked which concession they’d make if it meant earning guaranteed contracts, like those in Major League Baseball. 63% of the respondents said they’d submit to HGH testing, while the other options – an 18-games schedule (17%), free agency after five years instead of four (14%), and more offseason practices (6%) – garnered less support.

While the results of the survey are interesting, they may ultimately be moot, as the NFL is unlikely to agree to fully guaranteed contracts for any reason. Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • If the Buccaneers decide not to sign free agent guard Richie Incognito, there are a couple teams that would be willing to do so, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). As Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune tweets, Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht said the team’s meeting with Incognito went well and that he remains an option, but no move is imminent.
  • Veteran free agent Quentin Jammer doesn’t intend to retire this year, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN, who tweets that the longtime Chargers cornerback is hoping to play for at least another season.
  • Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link) hears that retirement isn’t currently an option being considered by Wes Welker, and that the Broncos receiver was feeling better yesterday after sustaining a concussion in the team’s most recent preseason contest.
  • A league source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link) that the Chiefs are mulling the possibility of keeping two kickers on their roster. While carrying a second kicker may not be the best use of a regular season roster spot, Kansas City has two solid options in Ryan Succop and Cairo Santos, so the team may not want to lose one for nothing.

AFC West Notes: Hillman, Allen, Jackson

August 2nd, 2014 at 10:10am CST by Matt Feminis

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman ended last season fourth on the depth chart, but he’s rebounded with an impressive, encouraging offseason, reports NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling. Hillman’s position coach Eric Studesville praised the third-year back, saying, “From when we started this spring in April forward, he has been unbelievable. He’s a completely different guy in the best possible way and I’m just excited about what he’s doing, how he’s approaching it, how he’s making plays on the field.”

Here’s a few more AFC West links:

      • The Broncos need to improve in the punt return game, writes the Denver Post’s Troy Renck, who takes a look at the players vying for the role, including Isaiah Burse and Jordan Norwood. The team can also use veteran Wes Welker if the “safe” option is the best option.
      • Donnie Avery had just 40 catches and two touchdowns in his first season with the Chiefs last year, but he remains the team’s best option to be the No. 2 receiver opposite Dwayne Bowe, says ESPN’s Adam Teicher.
      • The Chiefs’ offensive line is the focus of team reporter BJ Kissel, who writes about the impressive camp third-year blocker Jeff Allen is having. Allen is proving versatile and effective, and his teammates are noticing. Says Pro-Bowl pass rusher Tamba Hali: “I’m very impressed with [Allen]. He’s able to play guard and he’s able to play tackle and I’m going against him and he’s stoned me a couple times. I’m very impressed with him.”
      • There’s no more ambiguity about the type of offensive line the Raiders want to field, writes InsideBayArea.com’s Jerry McDonald, who says rookie guard Gabe Jackson “represents a changing of the guard for the Raiders in ways that go beyond inserting the rookie third-round draft pick into the starting lineup.” Jackson has work to do in pass protection, but the Raiders envision the third-rounder as a powerful road grader with long-term starter potential.
      • The Chargers’ depth chart for their first preseason game looks like this. Notre Dame rookie Chris Watt will start at right guard, while free-agent acquisition Donald Brown is listed as the primary kick returner.

Patriots Notes: Mallett, RBs, Siliga, Jones

May 23rd, 2014 at 7:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Panthers GM Marty Hurney isn’t exactly buying Bill Belichick‘s answer when he was asked yesterday if he’d be interested in trading quarterback Ryan Mallett, writes ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss. “He was regarded highly enough as a quarterback coming out [in 2011], and I think the position creates interest in itself,” Hurney said of the Patriots signal caller. “I said this statement [from Belichick] is like if you ever go to dinner and a person says, ‘I don’t want dessert’ so you order a chocolate cake and a big piece of chocolate cake comes out and all of a sudden you look and the other person is eating half of it. I think, if the chocolate cake looks good enough for Bill Belichick, they would be interested in trading Ryan Mallett.”

Meanwhile, Doug Kyed of NESN.com answered roster questions as part of a mailbag. Among his answers:

  • The futures of running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, both free agents at year’s end, are dependent upon production, health (in the case of Vereen), ball security (in the case of Ridley) and the performance of rookie James White. As of now, Kyed believes Vereen has a higher chance of being retained.
  • Nose tackle Sealver Siliga played well in late-season duty, and if that continues through training camp, he’s the “perfect” backup for veteran Vince Wilfork.
  • Fourth-rounder Bryan Stork, who offers center/guard versatility, could compete for a starting job this season.
  • Meanwhile, the Pats have yet to add a legitimate No. 3 tight end, seemingly a position of need. Undrafted free agent Justin Jones out of East Carolina could be a sleeper, however, writes Karen Guregian in the Boston Herald. She talked to Jones’ college coach, Ruffin McNeil (who also coached Wes Welker and Danny Amendola in college), who had this to say: “I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised with him. He’ll catch on. He’ll work hard. Justin was taught the same concepts in our offense, as Danny and Wes had at Texas Tech. Plus, he’s got great hands, athleticism, and he’s got length. He was a mismatch any time in the red zone.” The 6-8, 277-pounder went undrafted after not playing in 2013 when he was academically ineligible.

Extra Points: Welker, Burleson, Cromartie

March 16th, 2014 at 4:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A few assorted notes from around the league:

Combine Updates: Orakpo, Talib, Welker

February 21st, 2014 at 3:34pm CST by Luke Adams

Redskins GM Bruce Allen is a big fan of Brian Orakpo and will to talk to his agent this weekend, but there’s no guarantee that the free agent linebacker will be back in 2014, writes the Washington Times’ Zac Boyer.

“We like Brian,” Allen said. “There’s no doubt we like Brian, as well as a number of other players. If we were just one player short, that would be an easy question, but we have several [needs] that we’re looking to fill.”

Orakpo, 27, is considered among the best pass rushers available and is expected to command an average salary in the neighborhood of $10MM per season. Here’s more from the second day of the 2014 combine:

  • The Patriots are set to meet with Aqib Talib in Indianapolis to discuss a new deal, writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. As Howe notes, it’s a buyer’s market at the cornerback position with Alterraun Verner, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Charles Tillman, Vontae Davis and Brent Grimes also set to become available.
  • Broncos GM John Elway expects wide receiver Wes Welker to be back with the team in 2014 for the final year of his contract, tweets Howe.
  • Ken Harris, Jared Allen‘s agent, tells Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) that he had a “constructive” meeting with the Vikings on Thursday.
  • Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said he anticipates getting two to three compensatory draft picks, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
  • In Ron Rivera’s view, the Panthers don’t have a successor to Steve Smith on their roster, which is something the head coach believes the club could address this offseason, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • According to GM Martin Mayhew, the Lions have no plans to try to re-sign wide receiver Nate Burleson or safety Louis Delmas, who were released earlier this month. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has the details.
  • Johnny Manziel wants to endear himself to NFL GMs, so naturally, he decided to refer to himself in third person at the combine today when talking to reporters. “Johnny Manziel is a small-town kid. People make me out to be a Hollywood type,” the quarterback said, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Talib, Welker, Edelman

February 8th, 2014 at 10:48pm CST by Peter Sowards

Early indications are that free agent market for Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib will be “more robust” in 2014 than it was a year, ago, a league source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Talib returned to the Patriots in 2013 on a one-year, $5MM contract. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Albert Breer, Talib turned down a five-year deal in hopes of “cashing in afterward.”

Now is his chance.

Citing injury concerns, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss projected a three-to-four year deal for Talib with around $8MM per season and $12-14MM guaranteed. Talib totaled four interceptions and 13 passes defended in 2013, earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Other notes from the AFC:

  • Broncos receiver Wes Welker carries with him an $8MM hit against the cap in 2014, writes Florio.
  • Should the two sides want to work out a new deal, there is little time to do so, as Welker’s $6MM in compensation becomes official in March.
  • If no new deal can be reached, and the Broncos deem Welker too expensive, Florio names Patriots‘ receiver and Welker-clone Julian Edelman as a possible replacement.
  • Florio even goes so far as to mention New England as a possible landing spot for Welker, but is quick to point out how ludicrous that would be, given Bill Belichick‘s recent comments regarding his former Pro Bowl slot receiver.
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