It’s that time of year again. With the 2012 NFL Draft completed and hundreds of hopefuls beginning their careers with new teams, the new NFL season is close upon us. Rookie minicamps are in full swing and these newest professional players are embarking upon one of the biggest changes they will ever face.
It’s also a busy time of year for the man helping these young men with their transition to the league, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. Greg Cosell caught up with him at the NFLPA Rookie Debut to talk about the NFL’s newest members, as well as the continuing issue of HGH testing and the drug program included in the collective bargaining agreement.
Drug programs and illegal substances have become ever-increasing issues in all sports and the NFL is no exception. Human growth hormone is especially discouraged in the league, but there has been no testing program yet put in place with regard to HGH. The NFLPA and the league agreed to put a program in place in the new CBA, but the details of that testing program have created a dispute between the league and its players, who argue that the platform originally proposed was unbalanced and unfair.
Smith elaborated on the situation, explaining the league’s point of view as if they’re saying “‘We’re gonna hold you to a certain threshold, but we’re not gonna tell you what that threshold is. We’ll make a determination when you violate it, and if you violate it, we won’t give you an opportunity to challenge it.’”
In defense of the players, Smith claims, “I’m not sure there’s anybody in this country that would think that’s fair.”
Illegal drug use as well as that of other performance-enhancing substances such as HGH has no place in the NFL or any other league of any other sport for that matter. Both the league the and the NFLPA have agreed with that statement. Although the NFL is presently in the midst of numerous controversial issues such as the New Orleans’ Saints bounty scandal and the problem of concussions just to name a few, illegal drug use and its prevention/elimination is a concern which must remain at the forefront in order for it to be properly addressed. In addition, the program used to test players must be one based on good science and that protects the rights of both the league and its players while remaining objective in its implementation, all in congruence with the mutually agreed upon CBA.
“We believe in a fair process,” says Smith, “It’s not the National Football League’s drug program. It’s a collectively-bargained joint drug program. And we won’t be bullied or pushed into a program that doesn’t recognize our player’s rights.”
Although there is much work to be done and much compromise left to be achieved, Smith mentioned a major step forward has been achieved as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has agreed to do a population study which the NFLPA has been arguing for. One of the core issues at the heart of the testing debate was how the natural levels of HGH are determined, and what constitutes a failure. Since we all have HGH in our bodies, a population study which looks at the range of levels that occur in different people is necessary to separate natural disparities from someone taking the substance artificially. Is the natural level of HGH for a 90 pound female gymnast or 140 pound male cyclist the same as that for a 350 defensive tackle?
Smith then turned his attention back to the newest athletes to be exposed to the current drug testing program, the 2012 NFL rookie class. Now is a pivotal time where they begin to get accustomed to the life of a professional athlete, their new teammates, coaches, and surroundings, as well as the business side of the NFL.
After a welcome and congratulations, Smith reminds the rookies they are “men first and then businessmen in the business of football.” Yes, all are talented in their abilities to play football, but playing the game is no longer a complement to getting an education as it was in college, but is now a livelihood providing an income off which they must survive. Smith wants them to “enjoy what gift they have been given,” but also realize “it also comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility.”
“My hope is that they are good men, good husbands, that they support their teammates, that they support their union.”
In any context, DeMaurice Smith hopes this year’s NFL rookies carry themselves as exemplary role models while their dreams of becoming professional football players come true, as he represents them along the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6037boyPA8&feature=youtu.be
By Valarie Hanson
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