At a time when a former member of the U.S. Congress thinks the nation’s legislative body should squeeze the NFL and the NFLPA* into solving the lockout, two current members of Congress have penned a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA* executive director DeMaurice Smith requesting that pro football establish a “thorough testing program for HGH.”
Barry Wilner of the Associated Press reports that the letter was sent, and that Goodell issued a response on June 13. Goodell explained in the correspondence that HGH testing “is a critical element of an effective and credible drug testing program” and that the league wants “immediate implementation of HGH testing” in the next labor deal.
Goodell’s comments hardly represent a concession to Congress. In this regard, the NFL wants what the two members of Congress want. The question is whether the NFLPA* will agree to HGH testing, which currently can be accomplished only via blood sample.
And if the NFLPA* doesn’t, the next question becomes whether Congress will force the issue.