NFL suspends 3 Saints, 2 Vikings and 1 Texans player for doping violations

Chicagotribune.com ^ | 12/3/2008 | DAVE GOLDBERG | AP Football Writer

[Dixie Yooper]

NEW YORK (AP) _ Unless the courts intervene, the Minnesota Vikings will have to make their stretch run at the NFC North title without their two stalwart defensive tackles. Kevin and Pat Williams, who have anchored a Minnesota defense ranked second in the NFL against the run, were among six players suspended by the league on Tuesday for violating the league's anti-doping policy. New Orleans Saints Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant and Will Smith also were suspended along with Bryan Pittman, the Houston Texans' long snapper.

[Dixie Yooper]

It's a little late in season for the officials to be getting involved in the playoff picture... Why are Viking's fans cursed? It's the price we pay for owning the last real NFL Championship!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Time to bring back that great Number 68 all pro long snapper Mike Morris.

[Dixie Yooper]

The Williams(s) are defensive tackles (combined weight about half a ton). When it comes to snappers,long or short, I'll take Mick Tingleoff.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Mike’s dad sold me my first and only Chrysler product.

[thefactor]

truth be told, i think this is the case where products were mislabeled.

legal products contained banned substances. perhaps. they are suing the company.

[Dixie Yooper]

That’s cool! Except for the Chrysler product...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It was a 383 Road Runner. A more cheaply made car would be hard to find.

[Dixie Yooper]

It was a 383 Road Runner. A more cheaply made car would be hard to find

Oh, I don't know about that...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Was the “Cricket” a Rootes vehicle from UK ?

[Dixie Yooper]

The Cricket was Chrysler's first statement in the small car industry, like the Vega and Pinto. My uncle had one. He left it in Park with the engine running one cold winter day in the U.P. and while he was in the bakery, it put itself in gear(without shifting), rolled across US2 and hit a parking meter of the other side.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It was a Rootes car. Sunbeam Alpine was another. You may remember the Sunbeam Tiger that had the Ford 260 V-8. This led to all sorts of issues at Chrysler because their Euro operation was doing business with an American competitor. The Tiger was a neat car. Flimsy, but neat.

[wildbill]

It’s not completely clear to me why a long snapper specialist would need to use steroids to improve his play.

I’d think the hyped-up reaction that often accompanies steroid use would result in 60 yard snaps over the punters head.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its a finesse position that, immediately after the snap, becomes a big stopper position.

[dilvish]

Remember what they tested positive for was a diuretic which is considered a masking agent, both of steroids and other banned substances including of the recreational variety. Technically speaking they’re only getting busted for hiding evidence, not for steroids or any other specific usage violation.

[PurpleMan]

The NFL rule is if it’s in your blood (or urine), you’re suspended...period.

They can bring suit against the manufacturers if they like.

[dilvish]

I’m not disputing any of that. The query I was answering was why would a long snapper use steroids, and I pointed out that’s not what they’re getting busted for, they’re getting busted for using a masking agent which may or may not have been intended to mask steroid use, or pot use, or the use of lots of other stuff.

[wildbill]

I was really making a joke about the utility of steroids in a long snapper rather than making a serious statement about steroid use.

Sorry, guys, I forgot my [sarcasm/] instruction