ReutersNew NFL Coaches Association executive director David Cornwell joined PFT Live on Wednesday to talk about his new job.
In his old job, which to a certain extent he’ll continue to do, Cornwell represented players who were appealing penalties imposed for violation of league policies. And he handles not only football players but athletes in other sports.
One of his clients is Ryan Braun, the reigning NL MVP. The appeal of Braun’s 50-game suspension is pending, and I took advantage of the opportunity to pick Cornwell’s brain about Braun’s case.
Though Cornwell wouldn’t say much (OK, anything) about the specific arguments made on Braun’s behalf, Cornwell explained that baseball’s drug-testing program provides multiple possible defenses for players who may have ingested a banned substance unknowingly or for a legitimate reason. For NFL players, none of that matters.
Big Ben is jealous over Brauns herpes.
Is this because of cultural differences between the people involved in pro football and the ones in pro baseball? Or is it because one league has opened itself to more liability than the other?
He wanted to be Ryan Brawn.
Then there is the NBA drug policy, if you read it closely, it pretty much says 99% of the players never get tested. But thats probably because NBA is closer to wrestling than sports.
So what we are saying is MLBPA is better at their job then NFLPA. NBA is different because they don’t want a bunch of players getting caught doing rec drugs and the league never had ped crisis.
All points are moot. Until professional sports adapt similar policies to Olympic sports their “tests” are a joke. More accurately, the way they are carried out.
Take Cycling for instance, you can appeal, but no one ever wins, and on top that, once they serve their suspension, nobody wants them. The guys who come clean, contribute to a cleaner sport, and are welcomed back with open arms.