Despite the "urging of two Congressmen on Friday for the NFL to begin testing" for HGH, the NFLPA "appeared steadfast in its position that it needs more scientific information before it will consent to such a program," according to Judy Battista of the N.Y. TIMES. U.S. House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform Chair Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and ranking minority member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) called a meeting Friday in DC to "pressure the league and the union to reach a testing agreement." After the committee met with the NFL, NFLPA and USADA, "the league and two members of the committee said an agreement had been reached to begin HGH testing imminently." But the union said that "was not the case." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that it "was clear that Issa wanted testing to start in the next two weeks." People briefed on the meeting indicated that a proposal "was raised to begin the collection of blood samples within 10 days and store them until an agreement is reached over the technical aspects of the tests." Union officials "remained noncommittal about a time frame, saying they still wanted to see the information they have been seeking from doping officials about the thresholds established for a positive test." The union said that it "would not allow testing to begin until it reviewed the information." Issa and Cummings told the sides that if "blood collection did not begin within two weeks they would bring them back for another meeting" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/15). NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir of External Affairs George Atallah said, "We believe that we have to report back to our players, make sure that the protocol and the testing protocols are safe" (AP, 10/15).
SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE: CBS' Boomer Esiason said he was not surprised the NFLPA is "backing off because they have players guilty of using this substance." Esiason: "I don't care what anybody says, and there are many who believe it is at least 20% in the league. I hope the players are paying attention because, guys, they are going to test you. And it is coming right around the corner" ("The NFL Today," CBS, 10/16).
