Anger, frustration follow NFL suspensions in New Orleans

Scott Fujita worried aloud that his opinion about the suspensions of New Orleans Saints teammates Deuce McAllister and Will Smith could get him fined by the NFL.

[VIKINGLOVER]

I feel NO pain along with the Vikes. Its funny how Jackson the Atlanta player was able to avoid suspension.. If this is not Bias to the Vikes n Saints then I don't know what is.. I bet there were more that took this star cap product and the NFL is keeping shush shush which they should of done with the William boys.. I believe Goodell is a Vike hater and NO hater and proven he will be shown the door. Although I think he should be shown the door after these suspensions... To say they are responsible in what they put in there body is true. But any one can slip this product in their food or drink without looking. Are you going to suspend someone for not knowing there food was contaminated.. Its a sad day for the NFL and their Commisioner who did wrong.. He should of just waited until the end of the season to suspend these players. You would see alot less hatred if he did..

[gtVoyageur]

Why are healthy, highly talented, and rather royally paid athletes taking diuretics without a MD's prescription or under the supervision of the team's official doctor? Also, if these diuretics or the ersatz equivalents are in supplements, why don't the NFL teams have the team MD or team nutritionist advise the players?

Forgetting the NFL politics and NFL abuse policies malarkey why isn't the NFL making its abuse policies more concise, easy to understand, and set forth as rock solid? Having all these confusing controversial issues surface at the end of the season before the playoffs only creates havoc for all. It's rather a wishy-washy perspective for the NFL.

The final perspective, to the abuse issues, is that the player makes the ultimate decision for using questionable drugs or supplements. He is wholly responsible for his actions. If he has any doubts about using problem substances etc. he should check with the team medical/nutritional staff and the NFL substance, drug, & supplement information line(directly).

The NFL has to have streamline and clearer abuse etc. deterrent policies in place; meanwhile, players can not use ignorance of confusion as a defense when avenues of information are available to them! The fans deserve a better understanding of these issues and deserve better information.

[Waders]

Again, the Star Caps were over the counter diuretics not requiring a prescription. Plus the fateful ingredient was not listed on the label. Yes the players need to know what they are putting in their bodies, but the leagues approach seems to me to be a bit oblique and unfair. Moving forward, Go Vikes!

[gtVoyageur]

Waders wrote:

Again, the Star Caps were over the counter diuretics not requiring a prescription. Plus the fateful ingredient was not listed on the label. Yes the players need to know what they are putting in their bodies, but the leagues approach seems to me to be a bit oblique and unfair. Moving forward, Go Vikes!

My original statement stands, why are the players taking any diuretics without proper medical advise? Also, why didn't the players know ahead of time many diuretics mask steroids etc.? Since the players are subject to [random?] drug tests they are 'required to know this information! Ignorance is no excuse! There are thousands of people who are subject to random employee drug testing everyday. If any of these folks prove positive for banned, illegal, or restrictive substances how many are claiming ignorance?[In almost all cases, their employment is at grave risk.]

[RwM]

"My original statement stands, why are the players taking any diuretics without proper medical advise?"
if the diuretic is not on the label AND the players call the league drug hotline to ask specifically about starcaps and are not told it contains a diuretic (despite the league knowing it does) then your question makes no sense... If you don't know your taking something how could you seek medical advice about taking it??????????
The NFL want/require players to be huge... but then fine them if they are just 1 pound over an arbitrary weight... they take a weight loss pill that according to the manufacturer does NOT contain any diuretics... they go one step further and ask the NFL drug hotline... then gt suspended anyway.. the drug policy is supposed to be for the protection of the players.. and was CBed for that purpose..

[John - St Paul]

They violated their contract..period! I hate to see the team play without them, but they should have cleared any drug use with their trainer, who would have told them no. This is NOT a lobor dispute over some unknown issue. They did this to themselves and their team.

[True Viking Fan]

The commisioner is a dictator....worst than Fidel Castro.....this needs to stop. Let them talk, let them do funny celebrations, let them go all at it in games.......Goodell is the worst thing that happen to the NFL. Can't the owners do something and fire his ass?

[Jeff T in MPLS]

gtVoyageur wrote:

Why are healthy, highly talented, and rather royally paid athletes taking diuretics without a MD's prescription or under the supervision of the team's official doctor? Also, if these diuretics or the ersatz equivalents are in supplements, why don't the NFL teams have the team MD or team nutritionist advise the players?
Forgetting the NFL politics and NFL abuse policies malarkey why isn't the NFL making its abuse policies more concise, easy to understand, and set forth as rock solid? Having all these confusing controversial issues surface at the end of the season before the playoffs only creates havoc for all. It's rather a wishy-washy perspective for the NFL.
The final perspective, to the abuse issues, is that the player makes the ultimate decision for using questionable drugs or supplements. He is wholly responsible for his actions. If he has any doubts about using problem substances etc. he should check with the team medical/nutritional staff and the NFL substance, drug, & supplement information line(directly).
The NFL has to have streamline and clearer abuse etc. deterrent policies in place; meanwhile, players can not use ignorance of confusion as a defense when avenues of information are available to them! The fans deserve a better understanding of these issues and deserve better information.

Come on, gtV, the NFL gave the players an 800 number, what more could you ask for??(sarcasm)

It is clear that based on the circumstances of the players calling and checking on that particular product with the NFL's 800 number for that purpose and no flags were raised there, this should be a "no harm, no foul" instance. Even if the NFL wants to add this OTC medication to its list of banned substances, it was not on that list at the time and the players did their due diligence to make sure they were in compliance.

If the NFL wants to add this OTC drug to its list of banned substances in the off season, fine. Don't punish the players for non-rules.

[gtVoyageur]

RwM wrote:

"My original statement stands, why are the players taking any diuretics without proper medical advise?"
if the diuretic is not on the label AND the players call the league drug hotline to ask specifically about starcaps and are not told it contains a diuretic (despite the league knowing it does) then your question makes no sense... If you don't know your taking something how could you seek medical advice about taking it??????????
The NFL want/require players to be huge... but then fine them if they are just 1 pound over an arbitrary weight... they take a weight loss pill that according to the manufacturer does NOT contain any diuretics... they go one step further and ask the NFL drug hotline... then gt suspended anyway.. the drug policy is supposed to be for the protection of the players.. and was CBed for that purpose..

If a player is taking any supplements he is unsure or has questions about, take the supplements or bottle of supplements to the medical staff or adviser's for an opinion! If the bottle label isn't marked for any additional ingredients then the player has proof of innocence by a reputable legal witness. That is my point of contention!

I am not taking issue with the rest of what you say but these athletes should be extremely careful what they are taking for medicinal or nutritional purposes! Ignorance, or NFL ineptness, only goes so far before stupidity reigns.

If my highly compensated talents and athletic prowess were always in the line of public view, I would be overly cautious and knowledgeable how I treat my body and what I take for medicinal or nutritional purposes for it!