NFL players on Thursday ratified the new 10-year CBA, "marking the official end of the labor fight and opening the door for more thorough league-wide drug testing," according to Sam Farmer of the L.A. TIMES. The NFL "stands to become the first major sports league that tests blood" for HGH, pending final approval by the NFLPA. NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello said, "The goal is to begin testing for HGH the first week of the regular season. Over the next several weeks, we will discuss and develop with the union the specific arrangements for the test." The players have 30 days to "review and agree to the new drug-testing policy." If they "do not approve it, the system reverts to 2010 rules, which don't allow for an independent arbitrator to hear an appeal." The final approval of the CBA on Thursday "allowed for the 'league year' to begin and had an impact on all 32 training camps." Players who "had signed contracts on July 26 or later were finally able to join their teammates in drills" (L.A. TIMES, 8/5). In N.Y., Judy Battista notes "many details must still be settled" in order for the NFL to implement blood testing. The league and union "will discuss in the coming weeks the specific arrangements for the testing procedures, including whether testing for human growth hormone will be conducted in season and out of season; what type of test will be used; and the appeals process if a player tests positive." The NFL "had wanted HGH testing to be added to its drug policy, making it one of its top priorities as it negotiated with the union to wrap up the agreement over the past six days." The NFLPA "long resisted blood testing" under late Exec Dir Gene Upshaw. But current union leaders "were mindful that a refusal by players to go along with growth hormone testing would open the union to criticism and perhaps even to questioning from Congress" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/5).
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: ESPN.com reports shortly after 5:00pm ET on Thursday, the NFL's website about the labor dispute, NFLLabor.com, "was shut down." Later Thursday evening, the "federal court in Minnesota that was the venue" for both the Brady v. NFL antitrust lawsuit and the media fees case, "officially deemed those cases dismissed." Parameters for "penalties associated with on-field discipline and new disability program guidelines" were among the CBA elements "that were settled this week." Under a "new neuro-cognitive disability benefit, for example, players do not have to prove that their mental disability was related to playing football" (ESPN.com, 8/4). Cardinals K Jay Feely Thursday wrote on Twitter, "Good day-finally put to rest all talk about the CBA, 10 yr agreement will mean we don't have to talk about this anymore. NBA have fun" (TWITTER.com, 8/4). Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Ralph Paulk reports the NFLPA ratified the new CBA "without the Steelers' support." With the "majority of the league's 1,900 union members ratifying the 10-year deal, the Steelers seemingly cast only a symbolic no vote to protest their uneasiness with a sometimes-ambiguous conduct policy." Steelers players did not disclose the tally of their vote, but QB and NFLPA Exec Committee member Charlie Batch said it was a "majority vote." Batch "considered it a partial victory for the NFLPA that it convinced owners that players representatives should be consulted before a player is suspended or fined more than $50,000" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/5).
THIS IS ONLY A TEST? In N.Y., Michael O'Keeffe reports while the NFL is set to become the "first major American sports league to screen players' blood" for HGH, the "jury is still out on how effective such tests are in keeping the performance-enhancing drug out of sports." MLB began blood testing last year, and "not one player has tested positive" for HGH. Only a "handful of athletes whose blood has been screened for HGH by Olympic drug programs has tested positive since the testing was first introduced" at the '04 Athens Games. Supporters of HGH testing, however, contend that the "threat of a drug test serves as a valuable deterrent," a way to "persuade athletes who use growth hormone that they could be caught -- and punished -- if they use the banned drug" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/5).
CENTER OF ATTENTION: SI.com's Don Banks wrote no matter what Colts C and NFLPA Exec Committee member Jeff Saturday "accomplishes in this 2011 season," he likely already has "done his best and most important work of the year." Saturday was "consistently viewed as one of the foremost voices of reason in the long and often contentious labor negotiations." While "fiercely and passionately representing the cause and concerns of the players, he also earned and held the respect of the owners and league executives on the other side" of the table -- including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell -- who "often reached out to him to help steady things when the talks reached one of its many various boiling points or impasses." Colts Owner Jim Irsay said, "Roger had a great relationship with Jeff, and he really did play a huge role in getting this thing done." League sources said that Saturday "was instrumental in finding common ground between two sides that often couldn't agree on the most basic of realities." Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones "grew to trust Saturday so much that he not once, but twice let Saturday use his corporate jet to fly home to Amelia Island, Fla., during breaks from negotiations." Banks wrote, "Saturday also provided what I think many considered a signature moment of closure for the messy labor battle between the players and owners. Ten years from now, one of the few things we'll all remember about the NFL lockout of 2011 is the sight of ... Saturday wrapping New England owner Robert Kraft in a hug" (SI.com, 8/4).
WIN FOR THE FANS: In Jacksonville, Michael DiRocco wrote, "One good thing that came out of the NFL lockout: Teams are remembering that fans matter." With ticket and merchandise sales "lagging, teams are trying to entice fans with package deals and promotions." They are "apologizing to and bargaining with fans and opening events once previously only available to season-ticket holders to all fans." The lockout "forced teams to remember that fans (not their wallets) fill the seats" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 8/3).
