papasmurfbell Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/16/robert-mathis-suspended-four-games/ Robert Mathis suspended four games for PED violation http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/16/robert-mathiss-agent-calls-suspension-unjust-and-unfair/ Robert Mathis’s agent calls suspension “unjust and unfair”The agent for Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis is criticizing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after Mathis was suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.“The league and Commissioner Goodell have taken a stance that puts Robert under some strict scrutiny,” agent Hadley Englehard said on SportsCenter. “That is really unjust and unfair.”According to Englehard, Mathis simply took a fertility drug because he and his wife decided they wanted to give his mother another grandchild after learning that she has cancer. That fertility drug (which Englehard did not name, but is reportedly Clomid) is on the list of banned substances, but Englehard said an exception should be made for a player who took the drug for a medical reason, without realizing it was banned. Englehard said Goodell had access to Mathis’s medical data and to a sworn statement from Mathis’s doctor but was unwilling to make any kind of exception.“We have given him all the medical data,” Englehard said. “We are just amazed that the commissioner and the NFL have put this kind of punishment on Robert.”Englehard acknowledged that “There’s not much recourse left,” and Mathis is apparently going to have to accept the four-game suspension. Even if he doesn’t like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsylvester Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 An exception would have been made if he asked the NFL FIRST. That is, IF this is true. For him to go from a career high 11 sacks to 19.5 at the end of his career makes one wonder. Take the four game and shut up, he knew, having been in the league this long, he just had to ask. So if anything he was stoopid and deserves the suspension. Now, if you want to complain about the Phins DB who was suspended indefinately just for tweeting some words over something he found offensive, now we can agree on suspending players players for food..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted May 17, 2014 Author Share Posted May 17, 2014 Apples and screwdrivers argument. Mathis provided his medical reports and the situation shows he was trying to conceive. There are so many banned substances players can't possibly know what they all are and all the things they could be in. Jones is part of a team that is coming off a bullying scandal. They could still be sued big time. Jones actions could be brought up in court as showing continued unhealthy work environment. They had to act. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsylvester Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 Apples and screwdrivers argument. Mathis provided his medical reports and the situation shows he was trying to conceive. There are so many banned substances players can't possibly know what they all are and all the things they could be in. Jones is part of a team that is coming off a bullying scandal. They could still be sued big time. Jones actions could be brought up in court as showing continued unhealthy work environment. They had to act. Again, all Mathis had to do, which every player is advised to do when wanting or needing to take a medication, is put in a request with the pertinent folks at the NFL HQ, and this would not be an issue. Instead, according to him, he asked his doctor if the meds would pass an NFL drug screen. Now, if you said it is out of bounds to expect a normal doctor to know which meds will or will not, I would agree.... As for Jones, no the Phins did not have to act as they have; indefinate suspension. What Jones saw on tv offended him. So the Phins could have sent a better message that we all need to be tolerant of others. Society today seems to think it is ok to punish people for not agreeing with certain things, but not hold others to the same standard. We are expected to accept all, except, or unless what another says is against societal norms for offensive. See, we have accept gays, blacks, jews, pols, women's rights, but not the right of another to not like them for what ever reason. To me, this is hypocritcal trying to force some one to think one way, be one way. If you accept the homosexual, you also have to accept the biggot. We cannot always help how we feel, what offends us or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted May 17, 2014 Author Share Posted May 17, 2014 So a player should just know that a fertility treatment has a banned substance? That seems quite reasonable. Jones susp I am sure will be basically for an off season workout or two. They just had to make a show of force for appearances sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted May 18, 2014 Author Share Posted May 18, 2014 http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-takes-rare-step--answers-to-robert-mathis--claims-about-suspension-201228083.html NFL takes rare step, answers to Robert Mathis' claims about suspensionThe NFL generally doesn't offer any meaningful comments on player suspensions because of the drug policy, which means players can give any excuse and it goes unchecked.Robert Mathis and his agent Hadley Engelhard must have crossed some line with the NFL regarding the Colts linebacker's four-game suspension, because the league gave a lengthy statement that poked holes in Mathis' story.Mathis, an All-Pro last season after picking up a career-best 19.5 sacks, was suspended for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing drugs. Mathis said he was taking fertility drugs, reportedly Clomid, the drug that baseball star Manny Ramirez was suspended for using in 2009. Engelhard said the NFL suspending Mathis "gives the wrong message" because Mathis and his wife were trying to have a child.The NFL's statement on the matter, via TheRedZone.org, makes it clear that the league wasn't too pleased with the story Mathis was peddling:“As Mr. Mathis’s agent acknowledged today, his client failed to follow the protocols in the policy that the NFL and NFLPA agreed upon to address precisely these kinds of claims,” the NFL's statement said. “That policy also prescribes the disciplinary consequences of a positive test. The policy does not provide — nor should it provide — for the Commissioner to override the policy’s procedures and assess discipline on an after-the-fact, ad hoc basis. Here Mr. Mathis actually withdrew his appeal and accepted discipline at the union’s suggestion. His hearing took place only after the Players Association requested that the appeal be reinstated.“The drug for which Mr. Mathis tested positive is not approved by the FDA for fertility in males and is a performance-enhancing drug that has been prohibited for years. Importantly, Mr. Mathis did not consult with the policy’s Independent Administrator, a physician jointly approved by the NFL and NFL Players Association. Nor did he consult with his team doctor, the team’s training staff, the NFLPA, the league office or the hotline established under the policy to give confidential information to players. Each of these sources would have warned against using this substance. A cornerstone of the program is that a player is responsible for what is in his body. Consistent application of the policy’s procedures is critical to the integrity of the program.”It's certainly interesting that the league responded in such a way, even pointing out that the drug was not approved by the FDA for fertility in males. That's a pretty accusatory tone for a league that rarely comments at all on such matters for confidentiality reasons. Perhaps the NFL was sending a message that going over the top on the excuses isn't going to be met with silence any longer. Never mind. With this additional info the league is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsylvester Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 For his lying, they should make it a 6 game suspension, maybe that will learn em.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenMad Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 It seems pretty clear to me. If you are going to put any drug into your body, ask the league first. If they tell you it's ok and you subsequently test positive for something and can show it was in the supplement they passed, that's their fault and you can't be penalised for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted May 18, 2014 Author Share Posted May 18, 2014 These guys should just have league doctors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsylvester Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 These guys should just have league doctors. Yes, because calling the hot line, or their agent, or a member from the league council is so difficult........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cravnravn Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Yes, because calling the hot line, or their agent, or a member from the league council is so difficult........... They should consult the team doc, that way if they fail a drug test, they would have the team doc on the hook also.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsylvester Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 I just heard his agent on Mike & Mike. apparently, or according to him, as per Mathis's doctor who had used this medication for fertility for over 20 years. Mathis only took this drug for four days in November, stopped taking it after he found ou his wife was pregnant and still has the left over medication from the prescription, likely a 30 day supply minus his four day use. Of note, Mathis was not the one with the "issue" of fertility, his wife was and due to her medical issues at the time, she could not take the medication. So I will take back my statement of his lying, but stand by he knew and should have followed the PROPER protocol for taking medications. He never even contacted his agent until the league suspended him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 An exception would have been made if he asked the NFL FIRST. That is, IF this is true. For him to go from a career high 11 sacks to 19.5 at the end of his career makes one wonder. Take the four game and shut up, he knew, having been in the league this long, he just had to ask. So if anything he was stoopid and deserves the suspension. Now, if you want to complain about the Phins DB who was suspended indefinately just for tweeting some words over something he found offensive, now we can agree on suspending players players for food.....http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/19/dolphins-reinstate-don-jones-after-anti-michael-sam-tweet/Such a huge suspension. He lost so much money. It was going threw the motions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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