The NFL is set to begin testing for HGH, possibly as early as Week 1 of the upcoming season. Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez believes the league is going to find a lot once testing is underway. According to the Indy Star, Gonzalez said he would not be surprised if HGH use was widespread across the NFL. That should not come as earth-shattering news to anyone, but it certainly carries more merit when coming from a player than a member of the media.
“How many guys are on it, that’s hard to say,” Gonzalez said. “It could be 10, it could be a hundred or more; either way, it’s too much. But around the league, you see guys on Sunday, and things don’t add up; they don’t look right. I see guys I saw in college, now they’re in the NFL and they look totally different. I don’t know how prevalent it is at this point, but to say that it’s not being used, that’s wrong.”
The NFLPA can’t be happy about those comments. Players try to protect themselves from random, invasive testing for a number of reasons. Steelers safety Ryan Clark is one player who expressed concern with the testing, arguing that the players wanted to get a new CBA done so badly that testing was overlooked. Clark and others wonder if the test will be “too invasive” and the league will use the blood to search for more than just HGH. I can’t see that happening, and even if they did they would be in extremely hot water if they released the results.
If people are indeed using HGH, testing is necessary and will help clean up the game. After all, it’s not like they’re testing for deer antler spray.
Chest bump to Shutdown Corner for the story.
