Facing the "threat of suspensions for noncooperation" in the NFL's PED probe, Steelers LB James Harrison and Packers LBs Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers have "agreed to interviews with the league's investigators," according to Tom Pelissero of USA TODAY. In a letter from NFLPA Associate General Counsel Heather McPhee to NFL Senior VP/Law & Labor Policy Adolpho Birch, Harrison said that he "would make himself available" for an interview on Aug. 30 at the Steelers' facility. That is five days "after the NFL's deadline of Aug. 25 for players to fully cooperate or face indefinite suspension." The dates "proposed by Matthews and Peppers weren't immediately known." Meanwhile, a source said that free agent DE Mike Neal "has not yet agreed to an interview." McPhee's letter on behalf of Harrison "accuses the NFL of 'public shaming' and reiterates" the NFLPA's requests to "know if the league has any credible evidence beyond the initial allegations made by former anti-aging clinic intern Charlie Sly." The Harrison letter said that he "will only answer questions about Sly's remarks about him" (USA TODAY, 8/19). In DC, Mark Maske notes it was "not immediately known if the NFL will agree" to Harrison's condition. McPhee wrote that the union does "not believe that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is empowered to issue suspensions in the case for non-cooperation." The league's position in Birch's letter is that Goodell "possesses that authority under Article 46 of the sport's collective bargaining agreement" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/19).
SPEAK YOUR MIND: USA TODAY's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz writes Harrison "acquiesced to the NFL's demand for an interview in its ongoing" PED probe, but he "isn't backing down from the league." Harrison on Thursday said, "I wouldn't have a problem with it being filmed live. I've been prosecuted and persecuted publicly in the media by them for something I didn't do, so I don't see why we couldn't have the media there and do a live interview" (USA TODAY, 8/19). Harrison: "If it leads to the hands of that crook, I mean Roger Goodell, he can do whatever he wants. That's just the collective bargaining agreement that the players signed (in '11)" (ESPN.com, 8/18). Harrison added, "When it came down to it, if it went to a longer situation and I got the suspension, the bigger outcome wasn't really worth it. I wouldn't be on the team" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/19).
MAKE A STAND: THE MMQB's Albert Breer noted after NFLPA losses in the cases of Patriots QB Tom Brady and Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, if these four players "answer Goodell, there's no way to conclude that the commissioner powers are going to change" before '21. It also "wouldn't bode well for what's to come in the next round of labor talks, given that it would score another union-busting win for the NFL's barons and another blow against player solidarity." If the four players under investigation "fold, it'll get a lot harder to take grousing about the commissioner's power from players seriously anymore." If the players want something to "change with the way the league and the commissioner do business as the second half" of the '11 CBA commences, "now is the time to dig their cleats into the dirt and stand their ground." Breer: "Or forever (or least until '21) hold their peace" (MMQB.SI.com, 8/18). In Boston, Steve Buckley writes "make no mistake about it, Roger is all powerful." Buckley: "It boggles the mind that a man so many people fear/hate/disrespect/don't trust has more power than ever" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/19).
