PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is willing to meet
with the NFL to discuss an alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs -- but
only five days after a deadline the league has imposed while threatening him and
three other players with indefinite suspensions.
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Pegasus Sale .NFL Players Association attorney Heather McPhee sent
a letter to the NFL on Thursday, accusing it of trying to bully and publicly
shame Harrison without offering evidence beyond a brief mention in television
interview last year that was recanted by the accuser.When it came down to it,
(if) I got the suspension, the bigger outcome wasnt really worth it, Harrison
said after the Steelers 17-0 home exhibition loss to Philadelphia on Thursday
night. I wouldnt be on the team, it would hurt the team, it would hurt my
teammates and coaches, so it was easier to do the interview.Green Bays Clay
Matthews and Julius Peppers, and free-agent Mike Neal also were threatened with
suspensions. It was not immediately known if a similar meeting was being
proposed by the union.Im just glad the process is moving forward, Green Bay
coach Mike McCarthy said after the Packers 20-12 home victory over Oakland on
Thursday night. As already has been stated, as an organization, we support Clay
and Julius. And were looking to get this resolved as soon as possible.The
leagues deadline for cooperation from the four players is Aug. 25. McPhees
letter says Harrison would meet with the NFL at 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 at the teams
facility, and would only discuss the portion of the Al-Jazeera interview that
mentioned the 14-year veteran.In the report, Charlie Sly, who worked as an
intern at an anti-aging clinic, made claims of PED use against several athletes,
including the four linebackers. Sly later recanted his claims.Is the NFL aware
of any credible evidence -- other than the recanted remarks by one individual
shown by Al-Jazeera -- that indicates that there is any validity to the remarks
about Mr. Harrison? McPhee wrote to Adolpho Birch, the NFLs senior vice
president for labor policy and league affairs.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said
the league has yet to respond to the letter.Retired quarterback Peyton Manning
also was cited in the report, but the NFL cleared him after a separate
investigation in which the former Indianapolis and Denver star granted
interviews and provided all records sought by league investigators.Harrison is a
longtime leader for the Steelers. Matthews and Peppers are key cogs in the
Packers defense, and Neal spent the past six seasons with Green Bay.Harrison
said he assumes the meeting will take place in Pittsburgh, but he said he wasnt
sure about the date. Harrison added the team didnt approach him about his
decision.Theyre asking me about PEDs, so ask away, Harrison said. You can ask me
about PEDs. I never took a PED in my life and I never failed a drug test. Its
simple. Whatever evidence they think they may have or reasoning for questioning
is out of my control.Harrison said he wouldnt have a problem with filming the
proceedings.Ive been prosecuted and persecuted publicly in the media by them for
something I didnt do, so I dont see why we couldnt have the media there to do a
live interview, Harrison said. They can ask me questions and I can answer them
and yall can see whatever evidence they say theyve got or dont have.Harrison
isnt sure what to expect from the interview.I answered all the questions that
were in the Al-Jazeera that were in my affidavit, so I have no clue, Harrison
said.The NFL first notified the four players Jan. 11 about the investigation
into the Al-Jazeera report.Birchs memo to the union said suspensions would start
the day after the Aug. 25 deadline, and would end at the discretion of
Commissioner Roger Goodell once interviews had been completed.The four players
have steadfastly refused to be interviewed without what they call credible
evidence. Earlier this week, Harrison reiterated that he would be willing to
meet at his house with Goodell.Affidavits were sent by the NFLPA on behalf of
the players to substitute for the interviews, but Birch dismissed them as
inadequate.Despite the NFLs embarrassing refusal to thoughtfully consider the
fair question and viewpoint of a man who has performed his job in a public arena
at the highest level for over fifteen years, Mr. Harrison has decided that he
will act as the more professional entity in this situation, McPhee wrote before
adding that Harrison would make himself available.Goodells power to punish
players has been a contentious issue between the NFL and the union in recent
years, highlighted by the Deflategate case against the Patriots that resulted in
a four-game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady case and that of Vikings running
back Adrian Peterson, who went to court to fight his suspension over allegations
of child abuse.He can do whatever he wants, Harrison said about Goodell. Thats
just the collective bargaining agreement that the players signed. Thats why the
Steelers voted no.---Online:AP NFL website:
http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL
Twitter feed:
http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Nike Air Pegasus
34 Mens . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them
out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be
activated from IR.
Nike Air Pegasus Buy Online .B. -- The
Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec
Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win.
http://www.airzoompegasussale.com/ . The
native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday,
his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. COLUMBUS, Ohio --
Tag Ridings shot a 6-under 65 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead
with Martin Flores in the Web.com Tour Finals Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Championship.The 42-year-old Ridings was 52nd on the Web.com Tour regular-season
money list and entered the third of four series events 36th in the race for 25
PGA Tour cards with $9,493.I think everybody that hasnt done their job so far in
the first two weeks or first part of the year definitely feels that pressure,
Ridings said. You want to get it done as quickly as possible to take the heat
off.Starting on No. 10, he chipped in for birdie on his opening hole and had
five birdies and a bogey on his first seven. He added birdies on the two
front-nine par 5s.Well, this is kind of my favorite thing to do is play long,
tough conditions and tough golf courses, Ridings said. So, why that is, I wish I
knew, but probably more under par after two rounds on this golf course than I
was anywhere all summer. It makes you think a little bit. If you mess up, youve
got to take your punishment and get out of there and I did that a couple of
times the last two days.Flores bogeyed the final hole for a 66 to match Ridings
at 8-under 134 on Ohio States Scarlet Course. Already guaranteed a PGA Tour card
with a fifth-place finish on the Web.com money list, the 34-year-old Flores
birdied five of the first six holes on the back nine, making four in a row on
Nos. 12-15.Im very happy, Flores said. I gave myself a lot of opportunities for
birdie. I hit it close, hit it well, so extremely happy. I hit the shot I wanted
to there (on 18).
Nike Air Pegasus Mens Sale. I thought I hit a
good drive, but thats just kind of how it goes sometimes.He won the Lincoln Land
Charity Championship in July for his first Web.com Tour title.The series
features the top 75 players from the Web.com regular-season money list, Nos.
126-200 in the PGA Tours FedEx Cup standings and non-members with enough PGA
Tour money to have placed in the top 200 in the FedEx Cup had they been
eligible.Flores and the other top-25 finishers on the Web.com money list earned
PGA Tour cards. They are competing against each other for tour priority, with
regular-season earnings counting in their totals .The other players are fighting
for 25 cards based on series earnings. The last PGA Tour card went at $33,650 in
2013, $36,312 in 2014 and $32,206 last year.Two-time heart transplant recipient
Erik Compton was tied for third at 6 under after a 69. He was 173rd in the FedEx
Cup standings and is 63rd among the players vying for the 25 cards with
$4,000.South Koreas Whee Kim, the first-round leader, had a 71 to drop into the
group at 6 under along with Nicholas Lindheim (68), Xander Schauffele (68),
Jason Millard (67), Grayson Murray (67), Kevin Tway (70) and Bobby Wyatt (69).
Lindheim and Murray have locked up PGA Tour cards through the Web.com money
list. In the fight for the 25 cards, Schauffele is 25th at $15,395, followed by
Wyatt (33rd, $10,603), Kim (35th, $9,975), Millard (42nd, $8,175) and Tway
(52nd, $5,975). ' ' '