For now, we know that the new CBA will include testing for HGH. Many of the details of the testing procedure aren’t known, because many of the details still must be resolved.
But that hasn’t stopped the New York Times from building an analysis of the HGH testing program around the presumption that players will be tested only once per year.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello disagrees, and he has pointed that out on Twitter. Aggressively.
“This is an embarrassment to the NY Times,” Aiello wrote Friday night. “It says NFL’s HGH testing plan is for once a year. Wrong. No fact check?”
Aiello later went Mike Gundy on the Times, exclaiming, “Get your facts straight!”
Earlier this morning, Aiello pointed out that the Times hasn’t corrected its analysis. “If you are wondering whether NY Times fixed the major error in its story about NFL HGH testing plans, well of course not,” Aiello said. “Why would they?”
In a separate tweet, Aiello said, “NY Times story says NFL HGH plan calls for just one annual test. Wrong!!! Still not corrected.”
It’s a surprising display of candor -- and anger -- from the league and its spokesman. Presumably, Aiello has launched his assault on the New York Times with at least a nod from at least his first-level boss, Paul Hicks, and possibly the approval of his second-tier supervisor, Roger Goodell.
Either way, we like the willingness of the league to respond loudly to what appears to be such a clear mistake, especially since the once-a-year error is repeated multiple times in the analysis, hopelessly infecting the entire thing.
At a minimum, the Times should revise the story to reflect the NFL’s position, as articulated by Aiello. And if as it appears Aiello is right and the Times is wrong, the article should be further revised to say so.