Hope, Thy Name Is Roger Goodell
by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 2, 2008 4:47 PM CST
in Green Bay Packers News
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PrintESPN.com reports that six players have been suspended for violation of the NFL's steroid policy. Three players from New Orleans, one player from Houston, and two guys from Minnesota that we're all too familiar with.
Yep, that's right, Kevin and Pat Williams are officially suspended for four games, which just happens to be the rest of the regular season. What does this mean for our purple clad rivals?
The punishment is an especially harsh blow to Minnesota, which leads the NFC North and relies heavily on the two Williamses to stop the run game.
Tell me about it. I almost feel bad for Minnesota; this really screws them over with only a 1 game lead in the division. I guarantee you that Gonzo over at the Daily Norseman will NOT be pleased about this.
Now, I've already gone on record saying that this year's Packers team will likely miss the playoffs. However, Minnesota losing two of it's best defenders and essentially the core of their run defense just might be the most important thing to the Packers' season.
UPDATE: I was right about Gonzo of the Vikings' SBNation site the Daily Norseman being less than pleased with this news. He is not, however, panicking about the Vikings' chances. The commentors, however, are taking it much much harder. Check out the thread for some serious anger.
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In a season where we haven't caught many breaks
and perhaps deservedly so, this is a break we need to rally around. We win each football game for the rest of the year, and the Vikings, with all due respect to Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen and Steve Hutchinson, they may be losing their two best players. Kevin Williams may have been the best defensive tackle in the NFC.
Also, and I know I’m reaching here, but the Lions still have yet to win a game and they face the Vikings this week. I’m just saying….
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
I was wondering the same thing...
I watched the Lions drop a deuce on the field during the Thanksgiving game against Tennessee. I’m not sure they could beat an arena league team right now.
But they played them close in the dome back in October. The Lions can’t go 0-16 can they?
I hate to say it
but I don’t think Roger Goodell is going to let them go 0-16.
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
Note to all of the Viking fan conspiracy theorists
The fact that the NFL placed StarCaps on the banned substance list in Dec. 2006 should be noted in all of this. The fact that the label didn’t say it contained Bumetanide is moot.
from cbssportsline
"The NFL also said it sent two notifications about StarCaps on Dec. 19, 2006 — one to NFL club presidents, general managers and head athletic trainers and the second to NFLPA executive Stacy Robinson, who oversees the steroid policy for the union. That letter, according to the league, advised that StarCaps had been added to the list of prohibited dietary supplement companies. "
That's IF you believe the National Fraud League...
Goodell ALSO destroyed the evidence against the Patriots, to protect his mentor Mr. Kraft, then gave a lame excuse.
IF that report is correct and be corroborated I will change my statement. The Players Union appears to have never gotten the notification.
The burden is on the NFL ot PROVE that these notices actually were sent (unlikely). This was not a problem for the Vikings, it also involved 3 NO Saints.
There needs to be a Court Case to get to the bottom of this.
Regards,
I don't suffer from insanity...I relish every moment of it!
Unlike our criminal justice system...
In the NFL, players with steroid related issues are guilty until they prove otherwise. The burden isn’t and never will be on the League Office to prove they sent any documents.
My other issue- Some of the players said they were using the product to control their weight. In Pat Williams case I can buy that. Kevin Williams is another story. He may be 315lbs but he is not a fat guy. I am willing to bet that guy is < 15% body fat. If a guy is taking StarCaps and doesn’t need to cut weight and the product has an alternative effect of masking steroids….I can only assume he is hiding something. I’m not saying, I’m just saying….
by juggernaut400 on Dec 2, 2008 11:16 PM CST up reply actions
true
but it’s not about losing fat. It’s about losing WATER weight. just enough to meet requirements.
also, we pretty much need to make the playoffs to keep our team in Minnesota. I’m pretty sure the packers and bears don’t need to worry about that.
by thewild_viking_twins on Dec 2, 2008 11:35 PM CST up reply actions
I hate that
How the NFL threatens to move teams. It would be total BS if the Vikings were allowed to leave Minnesota, but we all know they would do it in a heartbeat if the $$$ were right.
I understand its about the water weight
Thats why I can buy it in Pat Williams case. Guys like Kevin Williams who are 315 and ripped aren’t the guys who get the weight requirements.
by juggernaut400 on Dec 3, 2008 1:29 AM CST up reply actions
that's a pretty strong statement
The burden will never be on the NFL to prove they sent documents? Given that the case was filed today, how do you even know the basis of the lawsuit? I can tell you that if a claim of sending a letter is part of the evidence, just saying it is so won’t cut it.
I am just saying, the NFL added StarCaps to the list of banned substances 2 years ago. Sending an individual letter saying StarCaps was going on the banned substance list in December of 2006 shouldn’t have any bearing on players that take the stuff in 2008. Its hard for me to believe that players don’t have access to the official list of all products containing banned substances before choosing their training supplements. It just seems simple to me. When players are looking for supplements they should: A) check the NFL’s banned substances list, then B) buy products that aren’t on the list.
If I am misinformed on any of my statements, then by all means inform me.
by juggernaut400 on Dec 3, 2008 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
the legal issues involve labor law - ugly and complex
As to the facts of the case, I can only tell you what has been claimed and talked about on the radio, so who knows what the actual facts will be.
StarCaps was an approved supplement at one time. A player or players attempted to get information from the NFL and they didn’t respond. The much touted letter was actually about marketing and was a list of products the NFL didn’t want players endorsing.
I find the sub-plot involving Grady Jackson interesting. Why hasn’t he been suspended?
Thanks for the info Pete
What I heard about Grady Jackson was that he was the most forthcoming about why he was using it and he was very emotional about it. Not sure how that is a valid reason for not suspending him.
by juggernaut400 on Dec 4, 2008 12:21 AM CST up reply actions
Please, Dragon
The meltdown over at the Norseman is hilarous. No less than 3 posts out of 20 have said that the comissioner waited until now to suspend “the Wall” just so the Packers could get into the playoffs. While those 2 getting suspended does benefit the Packers, it also benefits the Bears, who will be looking for a little payback when the Packers head south in a few weeks.
If these 6 players took something that was on the banned list, then its on them, not the league. If you’ve ever looked at the nutrition information on ANY supplement, they all say that they aren’t approved/regulated by the FDA.
In all honesty, this is usually about the time the Vikings start to fold, and now they have a convenient excuse. On the other hand, if they don’t make the playoffs, it’ll give Zygi a reason to keep Chester the Molester on the sideline, since the whole thing will have been out of his hands. Nobody handles prosperity (or a 2 game lead with 4 games left) worse than the Minnesota Vikings.
The other 20 starters
Actually I couldn’t believe that Gonzo didn’t mention it in this post. It’s not like Minnesota will be down to nine guys on defense. Their team is pretty good with or without the Williams wall. They’ll stay competitive. The big problem is that they’ve got a pretty rough last three games of the season (Atlanta, Arizona, and the NY Giants). But they don’t have to win all those games either. They’ve got the inside track to the NFC North title with or without them.
If they would have just accepted the suspension right away, they would have been back for the stretch run now.
WHAT?
They weren’t suspended until this week. i.e. there was no suspension to serve until the stretch run.
Surely you don’t think they should have voluntarily sat “in case” they got suspended and hope Goodell counted that as time served.
You never know with Roger Goodell
see: Jones, Adam
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
They were suspended when their appeals were squashed. If there was no suspension looming what were they appealing?
by juggernaut400 on Dec 3, 2008 10:29 PM CST up reply actions
Rules of appeal
The suspension is not official until appeals are heard. I will grant you that they could have not gone through the appeal process. But the fact remains that there was no official suspension until this week. And if you were going have 25% of your pay cut for the year, you would exhaust all appeals too. Especially if you think you are in the right.
Their Back!!!!!!
Haha, the court just blocked their suspension so they are allowed to go back to practice and even play until a ruling is made!
that was quick
"I'm so clean, cats think I sip Ajax."
by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 3, 2008 8:14 PM CST up reply actions
Really now
Do any of you really believe the Williams duo is on roids or that they are doing drugs.Theres no rage except 2 fine NFL players are accused of doing something illeagal.Are they guilty or are you hoping that with them out for the next 4 games ,your teams chance to get in the playoffs increase.Sounds pretty lame if the latter is the truth,because with or without the Duo the Vikes are going to take this division.
There certainly isn't any reason the Vikes can't take the division without the Williamses,
but considering their importance to their defensive scheme AND the lack of depth behind them, their absence changes the dynamic in Minnesota. If teams can run on them, they can score points on them. If they do that and find a way to limit A.P, any given team can beat Minnesota; even Detroit (bahaha, just kidding.)
As far as the suspensions go, I’m of the mindset that if they broke a rule, whether they knew about it or not, they need to serve the punishment. I’m not saying the punishment is consistent with other cases in the NFL, nor am I saying that the NFL was completely clear with what the rule regarding StarCaps was. However, the mantra of “you are responsible for what goes into your body” is pretty hard to argue with.
And of course I want my team to take advantage of this opportunity. I find it hard to believe that any dedicated fan would think otherwise. It may be irrational, unfair, or whatever, but I’d bet that 90% of Packer fans are with me on this.
"I'm so clean, cats think I sip Ajax."
by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 4, 2008 7:10 AM CST up reply actions
speaking for the 90 percent,
and as presumptuous as that may seem, YES WE ARE WITH YOU…lol …this is a golden opportunity. Now let’s stomp out the Houston Texans and build some momentum, otherwise, this opportunity goes is all for naught.
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