NFL Drug Policy Still Not Enough

After the San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman’s appointment to the Pro Bowl, the NFL finally did the right thing. . . well at least they are headed that way. The NFL Players Association has agreed to ban any player who tests positive for performance enhancing drugs from participating in the Pro Bowl in that same season. This rule however will not go into effect until next year, so Merriman will still get to play in this year’s Pro Bowl. Merriman was suspended this year for 4 games after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, but still managed to make a big enough impact in his 12 games to make the Pro Bowl roster.

It is good to see that the NFL made sure that players using performance enhancing drugs will not make the Pro Bowl, in addition to the 4-game suspension that is already in place, but even then the NFL’s punishment for a positive test is a joke. Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor had it right when he said, “You really shouldn't be able to fail a test like that and play in this league, to begin with.”

Indianapolis Colts’ Dwight Freeney basically said that there is no way to tell how many plays a player made because of this unfair advantage. I would agree with this and even take a step further by saying that there is no way to tell how much extra money a player made because of this unfair advantage. A player could use performance enhancers for years without getting caught and continue to reap the rewards from doing so (both physically and financially) for years after the player is caught. A lot of players may take this chance if the only punishment is a 4-game suspension and no Pro Bowl appointment.

The NFL is on the right track, but they should do more to deter players from using performance enhancing drugs.