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News Flash: Rodney Harrison has been suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. In a conference call, the Patriots Safety admitted to the violation, took full responsibility and apologized to everyone involved for his actions. Harrison was named in federal and New York investigations, and admitted his guilt to Commissioner Roger Goodell in a Friday meeting. He claims to have used Human Growth Hormone to help speed up the recovery process from injuries.
View from Mt. Olympus: While disappointed, I have more respect for Rodney Harrison today than I did yesterday…and that’s saying something.
New England sports fans have been pretty fortunate to avoid the steroid/HGH plague that’s infested the sports world (other than Manny Alexander, who we don’t really count as one of our own), but it would have been incredibly naïve for us to believe that “our” guys, no matter how nice they seem or how much we like them, didn’t do that kind of stuff. Believe me, if it’s everywhere else, it’s in our teams’ locker rooms as well.
However, take note of Harrison’s reaction, so different from your typical cheat that's been caught. He didn’t use some lame excuse, blaming an over the counter supplement or claiming incompetence on the part of the testers. Instead, he stood up like a man and apologized to everyone, from teammates and the league, to fans and school children who look up to him as a role model.
(The full text of Harrison’s statement can by clicking "Read full entry")
What’s your view? You at all surprised? Or were New Englander due for one of these?
Harrison Statement
"This is Rodney Harrison and I am basically here to let you all know that the commissioner will announce tomorrow I have been suspended by the NFL for violating the league policy for substance abuse. That suspension will be four games. I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather my use was solely for the purpose of accelerating the healing process of injuries I sustained while playing football.
I have not made excuses nor will I make excuses. I made a mistake and I am very sorry for that. I understand that I am a role model from high school, to college, to young kids. I do not condone my business, my behavior. I am very, very embarrassed by it. I am disappointed in myself. For any young person, any high schooler, any college athlete, I have been [inaudible] with my actions and I would ask, and I would not want to be the example for them, to never jeopardize their health. And they always have to love themselves.
At this time, I would like to ask all you guys, because I know you have a hundred million questions for me, but this is a mistake, and this is something that I have done. This is nothing that my teammates were involved in and I ask that at this time the respect of my teammates not to be violated. This is something Rodney Harrison did, Rodney Harrison did alone. My teammates did not do it. So as they are preparing for the Jets and the San Diego game and Cincinnati and those games after that, I would ask that you just would give them the respect not to badger them with questions, because they do not have any information. As well as my family -- I have kids, I have a wife, and I would just ask for the respect for my family. It was something I did and they should not have to go through it.
I will be absent from the team for the next four weeks. That is a penalty that I have to serve. I intend to return and do my best to really help this team in any capacity I can help this team get back to winning the championship. It has been a tough time for me. The last week or two, even before this, I have apologized to my family, which has supported me, all my friends, and now I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my teammates. Like I said before, they never were involved with this. This is something I did and I apologize to them for being a distraction because that is the last thing we need going into the regular season. I never intended for that to happen. I apologize to the entire New England Patriots organization and the fans who have supported me so faithfully over the past five seasons here, through Super Bowls, injury, through ups and downs. They have supported me. I definitely, definitely appreciate them. At this time, that is my statement. I am not answering any questions. Like I asked before, I appreciate your patience and I just ask that you respect my teammates and my family. Thank you."
I cannot even sleep as I am quite disgusted by this development. I do agree that he was mature about the situation. The man admitted to his wrongdoing, and gave a believable reason as to why he took hgh. My question is, how often are these guys tested? Assuming he has been tested before and has passed, can we assume that this was in fact a one time thing that he did to speed up the healing process? Or is he a "roid monkey" like Bonds? It is a fact that some forms of steroids are prescribed by doctors to help patients recover from certain injuries involving muscle and ligament damage. Still it is too bad that we have to start this season without the services of Harrison. I just hope those four games is the only action he'll miss
Posted by nokes | September 1, 2007 1:54 AM
Posted on September 1, 2007 01:54
Well Nokes, that's the issue with HGH...professional sports leagues in the U.S. do not test for it because the only known tests for it involve blood, and the unions won't agree to that. They only allow their members to pee in a cup. So there is no way of knowing who is using HGH or any of the other so-called "designer" steroids.
Now the Tour De Farce, I mean France, and Olympic sports DO blood testing, which is why you see so many of these "elite athletes" caught. It's one of the reasons you'll never see a wave of major league baseball players participating in the Olympics, and even if the NFL's world-wide expansion catches on, you won't see too many of them try for Olympic Gold...way too much at stake to have to submit to a REAL steroid testing program.
Posted by Teddy P. | September 1, 2007 12:35 PM
Posted on September 1, 2007 12:35
The Pats can win without Rodney Harrison, But its too bad that they will have to start the season without him! While its good he admitted his wrongdoing, it is regrettable that he thought he needed to use these illegal substances to gain an extra edge. We will look forward to his return to the team and hopefully we'll have his services for the remainder of the season.
Posted by Shappy | September 1, 2007 8:09 PM
Posted on September 1, 2007 20:09
Its a shame that the Pats will be without Rodney Harrisons servies for the first four weeks of the season because he took illegal substances to gain an extra edge.
Posted by Liza | September 1, 2007 8:13 PM
Posted on September 1, 2007 20:13
The Pats can win without the help of Rodney Harrison on Defense, But they'd have a much easier time with him not on the sidelines. Hopefully next time he will think twice before does something that could hurt him and the team... He is such a Big part of the defense it will be Great to get him back in week five.
Posted by Shappy | September 1, 2007 8:31 PM
Posted on September 1, 2007 20:31
A cheat's a cheat- whether he was mature in admitting it or not.
Posted by dboisver | September 3, 2007 11:56 AM
Posted on September 3, 2007 11:56
Take responsibility my ass. The only reason he confessed was because he got caught. I didn't do steroids. I only did it to get back from injury. What kind of garbage is that.
Your right about one thing. He's not the only Patriots doing it. If we are to believe the league is loaded with cheats, and I believe it is, so are the Patriots.
Posted by Mars Attacks | September 5, 2007 8:39 PM
Posted on September 5, 2007 20:39