NFL Notes: Steelers’ James Harrison willing to talk PEDs after NFL’s deadline
Steelers linebacker James Harrison is willing to meet with the NFL to discuss an alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs – but only five days after a deadline the league has imposed while threatening him and three other players with indefinite suspensions.
NFL Players Association attorney Heather McPhee sent a letter to the NFL on Thursday, accusing it of trying to “bully and publicly shame” Harrison without offering evidence beyond a brief mention in television interview last year that was recanted by the accuser.
Green Bay’s Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, and free agent Mike Neal also were threatened with suspensions. It was not immediately known if a similar meeting was being proposed by the union.
The league’s deadline for cooperation from the four players is Aug. 25. McPhee’s letter says Harrison would meet with the NFL at 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 at the team’s facility, and would only discuss the portion of the Al-Jazeera interview that mentioned the 14-year veteran.
In the report, Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at an anti-aging clinic, made claims of PED use against several athletes, including the four linebackers. Sly later recanted his claims.
“Is the NFL aware of any credible evidence – other than the recanted remarks by one individual shown by Al-Jazeera – that indicates that there is any validity to the remarks about Mr. Harrison?” McPhee wrote to Adolpho Birch, the NFL’s senior vice president for labor policy and league affairs.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league has yet to respond to the letter.
Retired quarterback Peyton Manning was also cited in the report, but the NFL cleared him after a separate investigation in which the Broncos star granted interviews and provided all records sought by league investigators.
Harrison is a longtime leader for the Steelers. Matthews and Peppers are key cogs in the Packers’ defense, and Neal spent the past six seasons with Green Bay.
The NFL first notified the four players on Jan. 11 about the investigation into the Al-Jazeera report.
Birch’s memo to the union said suspensions would start the day after the Aug. 25 deadline, and would end at the discretion of Commissioner Roger Goodell once interviews had been completed. The four players have steadfastly refused to be interviewed without what they call credible evidence. Earlier this week, Harrison reiterated that he would be willing to meet at his house with Goodell.
Affidavits were sent by the NFLPA on behalf of the players to substitute for the interviews, but Birch dismissed them as inadequate.
“Despite the NFL’s embarrassing refusal to thoughtfully consider the fair question and viewpoint of a man who has performed his job in a public arena at the highest level for over fifteen years, Mr. Harrison has decided that he will act as the more professional entity in this situation,” McPhee wrote before adding that Harrison would make himself available.
Goodell’s power to punish players has been a contentious issue between the NFL and the union in recent years, highlighted by the “Deflategate” case against the Patriots that resulted in a four-game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady case and that of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who went to court to fight his suspension over allegations of child abuse.
Kaepernick returns
Colin Kaepernick threw dozens of passes on the side during the 49ers’ joint practice with the Broncos, signaling the quarterback’s return from a sore passing shoulder.
The throws were the first on the practice field in a week for Kaepernick, whose competition with Blaine Gabbert for the starting job had to be put on hold after tightness in his right shoulder forced him to rest his throwing arm.
Kaepernick also took part in individual quarterback drills and conditioning. However, coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick would be eased back into full participation in practices and ruled him out for Saturday night’s exhibition game against the Broncos.
Brown discusses suspension
New York Giants kicker Josh Brown confirmed that an arrest on a domestic violence charge in May 2015 led to his one-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Speaking after practice on Thursday, the 37-year-old Brown said the woman whose wrist he grabbed in Woodinville, Washington, during a disagreement was his wife. He said the couple has since divorced.
Brown said the case was dismissed by the King County Prosecutor’s office five days after his arrest for fourth-degree domestic violence. A spokesman for the prosecutor said in an email to the Associated Press that no charge was filed because of insufficient evidence.
He said he informed the Giants immediately after his arrest, and the team told the league. He was notified of his suspension in June. He appealed the decision and it was rejected.