National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
In what had to be one of this offseason’s most difficult decisions, the New Orleans Saints released beloved running back Deuce McAllister today. Deuce has had a magnificent career. Not only is he one of the best players to ever don a Saints uniform (he’s the team’s career rushing leader with 6,069 yards), he’s also one of the most revered athletes in his community. He spoke at length about the difficult decision:
“They say all good things must come to an end. As a player, this is a day that you dread happening. If you don’t …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The five players who were busted for using StarCaps no longer have to keep wondering if they will be suspended. At least not for the next couple weeks and probably longer. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson extended his preliminary injunction against the NFL’s suspension of Kevin Williams (Vikings), Pat Williams (Vikings), Deuce McAllister (Saints), Will Smith (Saints) and Charles Grant (Saints) for violating the league’s anti-doping policy today. Judge Magnuson asked both sides to propose a schedule by December 22 to file pleadings in the case. That means the players are cleared to play …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson blocked the NFL from suspending five players (Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith) for violating the league’s anti-doping policy because he needed more time to consider the case after hearing several hours of arguments from the league and the NFL Players Association today. Afterward, the NFL released the following statement:
“Judge Magnuson made clear this afternoon that he needed more time to fully and carefully consider all of the briefs, arguments, and cases put before him. We welcome that scrutiny. We are confident that, once he …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The NFL announced today the suspension without pay for four games of six players that violated the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. The players specifically violated a longstanding provision of the policy relating to the use of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are potentially dangerous to the health of players.
The policy states that the use of so-called “blocking” or “masking” agents, including diuretics and water pills, is prohibited and that a positive test will not be excused because it results from the use of a …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
It appears as many as 10-15 NFL players have tested positive under the league’s steroid policy as a result of taking water pills to lose weight. Water pills. Big deal? Well, the water pills — aka Bumetanide — can also serve as a masking agent for other drugs or steroids. Thus the violation of the steroid policy if you test positive for it.
Bumetanide is a drug belonging to a group of medicines called loop diuretics or “water pills.” Its uses include the treatment of fluid retention and swelling caused by medical conditions such as …read more