The NFL Players Association released a statement Tuesday questioning the recent suspension by the league of two Denver Broncos players for violating the policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The NFLPA in its statement said, “[it] is disappointed by the decisions in the cases of Ryan McBean and D.J. Williams. Despite substantial evidence of breaches in the collection protocol and other procedural irregularities, the NFL decided to punish these players without judicious review of the facts. The League-appointed hearing officer then affirmed the discipline, even though the specimen collector was fired by his agency for not following procedures. The NFL also failed to produce the sample collector as a witness during the players’ appeals hearing.”
Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams and defensive tackle Ryan McBean each received a six-game suspension. Broncos tight end Virgil Green also received a four-game suspension.
According to the statement, the NFLPA and NFL have been negotiating a new and comprehensive Substances of Abuse and Steroids policies and these two cases underscore the players’ insistence to have independent, neutral arbitrators as part of any future policy.
