Goodell, Upshaw to Work Together on Player Conduct Issues

MIAMI--Gene Upshaw said at his annual Super Bowl news conference that he's highly concerned about the number of NFL players to have been arrested in recent months and he intends to work with Commissioner Roger Goodell to try to rectify the problem.

Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, said he thinks the penalties being handed out by Goodell for off-field misdeeds are sufficiently severe. The next step, Upshaw said, will be to meet with players who will serve as a focus group of sorts.

"I think Roger has been pretty aggressive already but it has not affected the guys," Upshaw said. "We know there's a cultural change. We'll bring players together, sit with a group of guys and have them tell us what they think and what they go through.... What we have to do is make sure we're getting the right information and make sure they understand the ramifications."

Upshaw said that he and Goodell disagree about another issue--whether players should be blood-tested for human growth hormone if a blood test that the NFL's leaders consider reliable is developed. Upshaw said he continues to oppose blood-testing and hopes a reliable urine test for growth hormone will be developed at some point.

Goodell and Upshaw recently agreed to strengthen the league's steroid-testing program and Upshaw said there are ongoing discussions about the possibility of prohibiting players who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs from receiving postseason awards or honors.

By Mark Maske |  February 1, 2007; 6:48 PM ET  | Category:  League , Steroids
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Posted by: Tank | February 2, 2007 4:54 PM

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