Steelers linebacker James Harrison is back in the news, as reports state he has responded to the NFL’s request to interview him regarding an Al Jazeera report with a sworn affidavit.
The story states that Harrison says he’s never violated the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted out the sworn affidavit, which you can see below. “I have never violated the NFL Policy Performance Enhancing Substances,” the report read.
The report implicated Harrison, Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews. On his Instagram last month, Harrison said he’ll do an interview at his house before camp with Roger Goodell present.
For now, it appears Harrison is in the clear – that is until Roger Goodell comes after the linebacker for something else.
James Harrison responds to NFL's interview request with a sworn affidavit: pic.twitter.com/jpRYXUWty5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 12, 2016
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Dave B.
July 12, 2016 at 2:48 pm
James Harrison is playing pro football at an age , when the majority of players his age would have hung up their cleats three or four years ago . Does that mean Harrison used some type of illegal substance ? Absolutely not . Anyone familiar with Harrison knows this guy is a hardcore weight room fanatic . Hes constantly posting pics and videos on social media of his workout routines . Hes done that for most of his career . With that being said , James Harrison wouldnt be the first pro athlete to look in a camera or speak into a microphone and say the words , I did nothing wrong . Down through the years , weve heard the likes of Barry Bonds , Alex Rodriquez , Mark McGwire , Lance Armstrong all swear to the heavens that they did nothing wrong . We now know , that wasnt the case . You not only did it , but you lied about it as well . At the end of the day ,unless the league can produce a failed drug test then you have to take Harrison at his word . As far as Charles Sly is concerned , its nothing but his word against the athlete . The only thing that would tip the scales in Slys favor is a picture or video surfacing of Harrison in the company of this guy . Harrison stated to the league he does not know him . A pic or video would suggest otherwise . Other than that , take Harrison at his word and move on .
DrGeorge
July 13, 2016 at 9:41 am
In fact, DaveB, this article omitted any mention of Sly’s unsubstantiated accusations or the role of the players’ union in the framing of the legal response by each of the accused. This is as much a story about the reach of NFL authority as it is about whether the accused athletes used banned substances. Goodell’s office appears to have used Sly’s accusations as an excuse to challenge the conduct of a few rather than addressing the use of performance- enhancing drugs generally and enforcing it systematically. The use of such drugs affects the credibility of all professional sports and undermines the health of those who use them. The NFL needs a better approach than ad hoc enforcement.
In that regard, Mr. Loede, does the current CBA bar the NFL front office from testing routinely for banned substances? Does the players’ union oppose such testing? IF so, why? Preserving the integrity of the game is in the financial self-interest of every NFL player. Protecting the few rogue players who take banned substances from such testing disadvantages all of the others who play by the rules. In short, the real story is much broader than this article suggests.