De Smith Holds Annual Press Conference, Says NFL Will Not Bully Union Into HGH Testing

NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith at his annual Super Bowl press conference Thursday said that the league "won't 'bully' its way to a test for human growth hormone," according to Howard Fendrich of the AP. Smith said that talks "continue in a bid to resolve the impasse over adding HGH to the NFL's testing program,"  Initially, the NFL "hoped it could start testing for HGH as soon as Week 1 of this season," but there is "no certainty it'll happen by the beginning of next season." Smith said, "No one will bully us into a test. No one will force the players to accept something that's unfair. How could we?" Fendrich noted the union has "raised questions about the detection methods and appeals process." Smith said that the issues of "most concern now are current players' health and safety, health care for former players, and painkillers, a topic not frequently discussed in such settings" (AP, 2/2). Smith noted that the union has "not been consulted about a plan by the NFL to have the St. Louis Rams play three games in London in each of the next three years." He said, "It raises some significant concerns about the health and safety of the players given the transportation, given the jet lag. We believe that issues like that are appropriate issues to be considered." Smith added that health and safety issues "would be considered in any future recommendation of the league to expand the current 16-game regular-season schedule" (REUTERS, 2/2). In DC, Mark Maske noted the NFL has "expressed a desire to revisit the 18-game proposal." Smith "did not totally rule it out when he was questioned Thursday, but said the union’s concerns remain unchanged" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/2).

SIDES MAKING PROGRESS ON TESTING: Goodell said the league is "making progress" with the NFLPA on HGH testing. Goodell: "A couple weeks ago we had a meeting where I think we came closer to reaching an agreement. I’m confident that the players want to reach that. It’s important for the integrity of the sport and I think it’s important for the health of the players.” NBC's Bob Costas said a "reasonable person can reach no other conclusion other than that the players have been stalling on this issue.” Goodell: “I think the players want to have the right kind of test in place. ... We’ve resisted this test for many years, by the way, ... (but) now we believe the science is real” ("Costas Tonight," NBC Sports Network, 2/2).

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: In N.Y., Greg Bishop noted Smith during his press conference "smiled often and seemed in the mood to celebrate" during the news conference, and it was, "of course, far different than last year’s version." Smith "spoke of the labor peace the NFLPA reached with the league before the season started and said he would not change anything." He even "got emotional at times and at least once referred to himself in the third person" (NYTIMES.com, 2/2).

NEXT IN LINE? Former NFLer Derrick Brooks, who served as an NFLPA player rep during his career, reviewed Smith's work during the collective bargaining talks, noting Smith "stepped up." Brooks said, “Now, it’s like, what’s next? Where is the union going to go from here? What’s going to be done? And these are fair questions that the players are going to ask at their meetings in March. They want to be reassured that the leadership is solid moving forward. … There are certainly questions that have to be answered by him, and hopefully he can answer them.” Brooks noted the union did not have “anything set up” after the sudden death of Exec Dir Gene Upshaw in ’08. Brooks: “Every time we approached Gene about a (succession) plan, he’d really bite back. … His untimely death kind of left the union in disarray as to what to do.” Meanwhile, Brooks said he has received “numerous inquiries” about his interest in the Exec Dir position should Smith leave the post when his contract expires in March. Brooks: “If that surfaced, I’d definitely take a look at it, just like I do any other opportunity” (“The Jim Rome Show,” 2/1).