http://espn760.com/blogs/dolphins.php?action=blog&post_id=3233 One of the better print interviews with Cameron Wake.
Honestly I can't help but wonder if PED testing had something to do with the Steelers' players near unanimous decision not to vote for the CBA. The CBA sets out a path for HGH testing within the year. In thinking about players on HGH, one thing that wouldn't surprise me would be if the popularity of HGH was clumped in certain locker rooms. Theoretically there could be locker room atmospheres where things maybe are a little more lax, various people up high might have a habit of looking the other way. In that situation, if some players start to do it, it could infect the locker room culture through peers. You get to a team as a rookie, and you look around, and you're like "Oh, this is how it's done". That might not be the case at all if you'd gone to some other team, but you don't know that because you've only been on this team. I'm not saying it'd be brazen, like guys shooting up right in their locker and handing the stuff out...but if a few guys at your position do it, and those guys want to win games, and so they want all their players to be good...maybe they slip it into conversations, that sort of thing. Anyway that's my theory, that HGH in the NFL is probably like an infection, spreading locally rather than affecting all teams the same way at all times. And so when the Steelers voted overwhelmingly not to pass the CBA, using some BS excuse about it not having been explained to them properly...sad to say, that was the first thought that came to mind.
If I recall correctly players will be tested on game day. Do you know if it is every player every game or is it random testing? Will be interesting to see if some teams are gutted during the season. Or if they aren't which teams at the end of the year people will look back wondering what happened to the Steelers, Ravens, etc... (not saying players on those teams are using). May have to wait a couple of years to see what the average weight for players are at respective positions to see how widespread HGH has been. Wonder how much change that has taken place since 1970 is a result of better conditioning and nutrition and how much a result of HGH. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=493
From what I've read, the half life for HGH is pretty short. Anyone know the official amount of time it stays in your system?
I'd bet $1 million that anywhere from 75% to 90% of ALL NFL players are currently using or have in the past used AAS and/or HGH. The NFL is so competitive that players will do almost anything in order to gain an advantage. If a player thinks he can make $10mil by doing a few cycles or possibly have to bag grocery's for $8/hr if he doesn't he will take the drugs. And if other players know this, they also know that they too must get that advantage in order to compete or risk getting cut.
Thought it interesting that Wake sort of let the cat out of the bag in re JT's playing weight. Strahan did the same thing as his career wound down.
The current test can only detect if it was used in last 24-36hrs if I remeber correctly from the article I read. They do have a new test in the pipeline that they are hoping will be ready to use that can detect it within 7 days. I'll look for the article if I can find it. I was pretty recent, within the last few days that I read it.
I've read even as little as 4-6 hours from some tests. I'd be interested to see which test they are using.
Half life is 2 hours. I think it is going to be hard to detect anyway, since it is a naturally occurring substance in the body, unlike anabolic steroids. http://www.jintropin.org/hgh-quick-facts/
Well, as for the larger issue, imho this is very stupid of the NFL, why set your league up to be embarrassed? *Shocking..50 NFL players test positive for HGH!!!!* Oh, now that's smart.
I'm sure Goodell told them all that if they are using, they should stop, because there will be testing. The players will all stop because of that. See, the NFL has it covered.
"You guys really should not be using " even with millions of dollars on the line. It's kind of dumb any way one slices it.
Actually, the HGH they use isn't natural and that's why it is detectable. Also, even though some people like to use half-life in order to determine when a drug is out of the body, it's not a very accurate method. Half life is typically used to help properly dose the medication and not to determine elimination. Even though some drugs have a half life of say, 1 day, they can still be detected for months or even longer. There are naturally AAS that are being used. The most popular is testosterone. If players were to only use pure "test" they wouldn't fail any drug test. However, using unaltered test would require the person to inject themselves multiple times each day in order to keep blood levels high. What scientists have done in order to prevent this is to invent an esterification process that allows the drug to stay active in the body for much longer. A lot of times when you hear about a player testing positive for AAS it's due to the ester and not the drug.
it wouldnt surprise me one bit with current player size and speed. sure we have better and more intense training than in years past, but some act like we have evolved as a species over the past couple decades
That's plausible, Chris. If it's a part of the in crowd, then it's much more likely to be accepted or even promoted, and we all know the defense runs the show in Pitt. Can you imagine being a rookie or an aging mediocre vet on that team watching a player go from being cut 4 times and playing in Europe to being a Defensive POY <if he were using>? Plus, there's a different mentality to that team. They're tough SOB's who cohesively want to beat the snot out of you, physically dominate you...... so I could see where if your theory were true for at least 1 team, Pitt would be the first team I'm looking at. If this can happen on a high school baseball team (where the stakes aren't as high), then I certainly wouldn't count it out when riches, success, achieving dreams, and/or fame are on the line. When 1 guy hulks up to 5'9, 190 in high school, crushes the hell out of the ball, and gets drafted in the 3rd round, other guys want in on that (especially if they're in the same circle). The guy gets up to 205 in the pros, makes $6 million, retires in his 30's...... and likely is still in perfect health. Nice theory by the way.
What? You think I copied and pasted that? Again, I did not. I work in the medical field for one. And without getting into a long explanation, I know a fair amount about this subject. No, I've never used AAS. Sent from my PB99400 using Tapatalk
lol...It's a good thing I'm not just an x-ray tech then, huh? Anyhow, I'm flattered that you think I copied my post from someplace.
Don't know about that as the reason for the vote (I think they do hate Goodell). But, I wouldn't doubt that it's a factor in the Steeler's locker room. And, drug cultures are also generational. It clearly was there in the days of Kolb & Webster (as it probably was with other teams). And, I suspect it just was handed down from one generation to another - this happens in nearly all families (most children have little choice what teams they will root for). And, this is probably more true because of the nature of the Steeler family. Their turnover in terms of coaches, staff, and even players, has never been dramatic. They haven't had 10 different regimes with massive player turnover (as the Dolphins have had this decade). They've pretty much stayed consistent with the same leadership philosophy since 1970. And, there's no doubt the physical specimens that the Steelers players all seem to become - especially as the season goes on - may be indicative.
Amatuer Gynocologist. I'm a Radiation Therapist. Some of out patients, due to their conditions, are prescribed AAS.
Yep. AAS, IMO, has been overhyped and overblown. AAS can be used safely. I uderstand that it's an NFL rule and I think players should follow that rule, but the dangers of these drugs is not as great as the media wants people to believe.
Also, the layman and the media like to lump them all together as for dangers, effects, and side effects, but many of them are as different from one another as night and day. Not many states allow them to be prescribed from what I understand. Only state I know of for sure that does is Calif.
