FOX NFL Sunday and FOXSports.com have learned that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA chief Gene Upshaw and other league officials quietly met this week with a panel of scientists, doctors and experts in somewhat of a drug summit to get a more aggressive plan of attack to catch the cheaters.
The meeting took place on Thursday in New York City with half the experts in the office and others via conference call. In addition, Upshaw told FOX NFL Sunday and FOXSports.com, that he and Goodell are working on a much more aggressive testing system they hope to have in place either this year or the start of next in their battle against Human Growth Hormone, testosterone and steroids.
Perhaps the most significant step to arise out of this meeting was Upshaw admitting he and Goodell will soon agree to a new, more aggressive random testing system that will include more random tests per week, perhaps as high as 15 per club per week — up from seven per week.
But even more important is the fact that the two sides will use a more aggressive testing system either this year or next in such random tests. The system, called CIR or carbon isotope radiation testing, can unequivocally detect the use of artificial testosterone. Due to costs and a lack of lab machines the league currently only uses CIR to confirm positive tests. Under their new plan, the league will increase their spending to actually use this CIR system in random testing.
"We are looking to prevent the cheaters from doing what they try to do," said Upshaw. "The only thing I want when we increase this is notice for my players. We've got to notify these guys of what we're going to do. But once they have that notification, we plan to get much more aggressive."
The most intense discussions were centered upon human growth hormone. Despite the NFL's desire to crack down completely on users of growth hormone, the scientists and experts admitted while they are working on a urine-based test rather than the unproven blood test that exists, they're still far behind.
"There's still no viable tests for it," said Upshaw.
Other points to come out of this meeting, the first of its kind for Goodell as the new commissioner:
The scientists and doctors informed Goodell and Upshaw that people are now combining more drugs but in lower doses to avoid side effects and detection. The CIR will help catch some of those who use this strategy.
The league will try to put some unpredictability in its testing program within the next year.
Goodell wants to shorten the appeal process. Currently, a player can test positive, receive notification, then wait up to a month before he learns if his suspension will be upheld or not. The commissioner wants to significantly cut down on this time.
COME AGAIN: The 2006 season has widely been assumed to be the last hurrah for Packers future Hall Of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. But new head coach Mike McCarthy now says the franchise is doing whatever it has to do convince him to actually return for one more year.
"I know what's being said out there and written about it but I'm telling you after watching him first hand that he's part of the solution, not part of the problem," McCarthy told FOX NFL Sunday and FOXSports.com. "I'd love to have him for one more year."
McCarthy said he spoke with Favre within the last couple of weeks about such a notion and admits the next two months will be crucial in the process.
"I think these next eight games will decide it for him," said McCarthy. "It all depends how things go down the stretch."
McCarthy said the team is doing whatever it can to make Favre comfy — including giving him his own office at the team's complex so he can spend longer hours at work.
One thing McCarthy said he and GM Ted Thompson have talked about is the fact they want Favre to make a decision soon after the season ends rather than have the long, drawn-out drama that occurred this past off-season.
"That's why these next eight games are so important to him," McCarty added. "But this off-season he'll know who his receivers will be, he'll know who his o-line will be. He'll have a better sense of who we're building with."
LEWIS BOILS OVER: The Bengals are either about to step up and ride a wave to the postseason or follow suit from a week ago and completely implode. In their last game the Bengals embarrassed themselves with one wideout slamming his helmet for all to see down the stretch, a QB ripping into another wideout and then another wideout nearly crying with frustration after the game.
Enough seems to be enough for their head coach.
Team sources told FOX NFL Sunday and FOXSports.com that after last week's game head coach Marvin Lewis, for the first time after a game all season, completely ripped into his team.
According to the sources, Lewis implored his team to "stop worrying about 'me' and stop being so selfish."
Lewis has kept his patience with his team despite having to deal with several interpersonal and off-field problems plaguing his locker room — that is, until last Sunday afternoon.
Lewis also implored his team to control their emotions when they get frustrated and things go bad. Basically, if they are to head to the postseason they can't get unraveled when bad stuff happens.
