NFL Lockout Watch, Day 27: Ravens WR Labels Goodell A "Joke" For HGH Comments

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league is insisting on HGH testing in a new CBA, but Ravens WR Derrick Mason said Goodell "needs to stop crying about a blood test and HGH" and needs to "get a deal done" for a new CBA. Mason said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on WJZ-AM's "The Norris & Davis Show," said of Goodell, "He's been on this crusade about HGH but he needs to be on a crusade about getting these owners together and trying to work out a deal. To me, he's a joke because every time I look he's talking about performance-enhancements instead of talking about trying to figure out a way to make sure football is played." Mason added Goodell is talking about PEDs and testing "because it's great to say." Mason acknowledged people "want to do whatever you have to do to make sure there's not a competitive edge in the sport," but he added the NFL has been "crying about a blood test for a long time" ("The Norris & Davis Show," WJZ-AM, 4/5). NFL VP/Law & Labor Policy Adolpho Birch appearance on the show yesterday to respond to Mason's comments, and Birch said, "I'm not sure he really feels that way. I think probably what he is doing is expressing the frustration that a lot of us have that we haven't been able to resolve our difference in bargaining. ... There is no question that HGH testing and the integrity of our game is as critically important as anything else we are talking about during the course of these discussions" ("The Norris & Davis Show," WJZ-AM, 4/6).

CROMARTIE FOR HGH TESTING: Free agent CB Antonio Cromartie yesterday on his Twitter account sided with Goodell "and other members of league management who want" HGH testing. He wrote, "Jus was reading an article about HGH testing in the NFL. I'm for it I'm not against it. If u against that mean you hiding something." PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY wrote Cromartie's comments "may not be popular with some of his fellow players, but Cromartie deserves praise for speaking out in this forum" (PROFOOTBALLWEEKLY.com, 4/6).