Logistical hurdles cleared, NFL to begin game-day drug testing

NEW YORK -- The NFL is adding game-day testing for performance-enhancing substances -- but not recreational drugs -- this season under the new collective bargaining agreement.

The league's senior vice president of law and labor policy, Adolpho Birch, said Tuesday on a conference call with reporters that tests weren't conducted on past game days "because of logistical issues involved, much more so than any philosophical issues."

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Birch, who oversees the NFL's drug program, added that the league had developed a way to test that "is not overly disruptive to the clubs and that respects the game-day process."

Birch wouldn't say where talks between the NFL and the players' union stand -- or even if they have started -- about details that need to be worked out before the league can introduce random, year-round blood testing for human growth hormone.

The league and union agreed last week that HGH testing can become part of the sport's drug program under the new, 10-year collective bargaining agreement that was ratified by players Thursday. But first, issues such as the appeals process and how tests are taken must be negotiated.

"The key to this testing is the randomness of it, and that every player is subject to and eligible for testing on a year-round basis, with no notice," Birch said.

The only limitation on the number of tests is that a player may be tested a maximum of six times each offseason, from February until the start of training camp.

"I would certainly expect players will be tested in an amount that will be meaningful," Birch said. "But more important, the idea is not so much the number of tests performed, but it is the constant threat of testing that provides the key to deterrence under this particular program."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Attorney: NCAA cleared UNC's Coples for attending draft parties

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- An attorney for North Carolina's Quinton Coples said Tuesday the NCAA found no wrongdoing by the defensive lineman, who attended NFL draft parties with ex-teammates Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin. Quinn and Austin, both of whom were drafted this year, previously had been suspended for rules violations.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Robert F. Orr said the NCAA notified him in a phone call Monday that its review was closed. The NCAA had spoken with Coples in May after photos surfaced of him with former Tar Heels Austin and Quinn at a party in Washington, D.C.

Austin was kicked off the team, and the NCAA ruled Quinn permanently ineligible during the probe into improper benefits and academic misconduct.

Quinn was selected 14th overall by the St. Louis Rams in April's NFL draft, while the New York Giants picked Austin in the second round (52nd overall).

Orr said the NCAA never alleged Coples broke any rules.

Coples was third in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 10 sacks during the 2010 season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Jets S Leonhard says he's cleared for all football activities

New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard caught a bad break during a December practice. This week, he had a "breakthrough" in his recovery, telling The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., that he has been given the go-ahead to participate in football activities.

"This week was a definitely a huge breakthrough," Leonhard said. "I felt I could push as hard as I wanted to and not have setbacks.

"I'm getting excited. I want to play football and prove I'm back; prove I've done the work to get back."

Leonhard, who made the secondary calls for the Jets last season, has worked hard rehabbing after surgery to place a rod in the leg to stabilize the right tibia fracture.

He said he has had no setbacks during his recovery and that X-rays in April revealed the break had fully healed. His road back began with work on an anti-gravity treadmill and strength exercises, then advanced to running on the ground. The last hurdle, which was cleared three weeks ago, was being allowed to resume all of the motions vital to playing in an NFL defensive backfield.

"Obviously you get back and meet with the trainers, but I would feel comfortable doing anything at this point," Leonhard said. "A lot of it has gone on feel because it's a bone, and it's hard to determine what the timeline would be. If there's a lot of soreness, you back off; if it feels good, you push hard. Now I feel like I can push it as hard as I want."

Helping Leonhard during his workouts and recovery in Madison, Wis., was his younger brother Tyler, who is literally following in Jim's footsteps by trying to walk on at the University of Wisconsin as a defensive back.

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Jaguars QB Garrard expects to be cleared to play at Dallas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The "cloud coverage" has cleared, and quarterback David Garrard is ready to return for the Jaguars.

Almost.

Garrard still has to pass post-concussion tests Tuesday to be cleared to practice and play for the Jaguars (3-4).

"Once I pass those, then everything will be good," Garrard said.

Speaking for the first time since he sustained his concussion last Monday night against the Tennessee Titans, Garrard said he failed the NFL-mandated tests Friday.

"It was really just a cloud coverage thing," he said. "It wasn't partly cloudy. It wasn't semi-cloudy. It was a total cloud coverage. But now I feel great. I feel like my normal self. But we're going to be smart and make sure that it's not you just got over the clouds but they're still back there lingering or something."

Garrard sustained a concussion when Titans linebacker Will Witherspoon drove him to the ground during the second quarter of the 30-3 loss, the worst home defeat in Jaguars history.

The next day was "just awful," Garrard said. He was sensitive to light and noise, but he never vomited. His focus, demeanor and speech were "really slowed down."

Garrard started feeling better Saturday and even worked out Sunday and Monday.

"It was a terrible experience to go through," Garrard said. "It was a tough experience to go through, but hopefully it doesn't happen again."

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio made it clear Monday that Garrard will start Sunday's game at Dallas if he passes his tests.

"As long as he remembers snap counts and how to play football," Del Rio said.

Backup Todd Bouman, signed early last week, completed 18 of 34 passes for 222 yards in Sunday's 42-20 loss at Kansas City. Bouman had two touchdown passes and two interceptions, but he received strong reviews from Del Rio and teammates. Even Garrard was impressed.

"I thought it was awesome the way he started out the game, the way he was energized," Garrard said. "He looked like a kid out there for a 38-year-old man. He had fun. Things just didn't work out for him there toward the end. Those are things that as an offensive group we're going to have to overcome. Teams are going to have turnovers, but you've got to be able to overcome them and go down and make a score, and we didn't do that."

Garrard has been inconsistent all season. He has eight TD passes and an interception in three wins, and one score and six turnovers in three losses. He has been sacked 12 times, with nine of them coming in the losses.

Still, Garrard insisted he won't change the way he plays following the first concussion of his NFL career.

"I'm still going to be David Garrard," he said. "I'm going to play the way that I play. I can't alter my game. I don't know how I would alter it. I'm going to be as physical as I still can, but also be smart, too, knowing that I can have a concussion, I can be susceptible to a concussion."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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