The slim chance remaining (playoffs)

[sharpe1027]

More likely, they knew it didn't claim to contain any banned substances, and knew when they got caught, they'd have a plausible story they could float.

This.

I find it highly unlikely that this number of players would be taking sub-standard diet pills from a shady supplier. There are plenty of reputable sources for the same stuff. I find it much more likely that they were taking the masking agent and had this planned from the start.

In the end it doesn't matter whether they did it intentionally or not. NFL should put forth a policy that prevents someone from using this type of BS excuse.

[denverYooper]

Would you risk 25% of your salary hoping for a loophole? That isn't even remotely credible.

Given what's happened in the markets recently there are a lot of people who don't share your good sense.

[DonHutson]

The NFL is opening a giant can of worms if they go forward with this, assuming the above is factual.

The NFL is opening a giant can of worms either way. If they give these guys a pass, the NFL is admitting they should have notified the players about this specific product. Then are they taking on the liability to inform the players about every product that's out there? That's what the league is trying desparately to avoid.

They have always put the responsibility on the team and specifically the players to know what they are putting into their bodies. That's exactly the right position for them to take. It should be the player's responsibility. I think they will suspend these players to uphold that precedent.

I also think there will be a big stink about the whole scenario in the off-season for all of the reasons you stated.

[Rastak]

The NFL is opening a giant can of worms if they go forward with this, assuming the above is factual.

The NFL is opening a giant can of worms either way. If they give these guys a pass, the NFL is admitting they should have notified the players about this specific product. Then are they taking on the liability to inform the players about every product that's out there? That's what the league is trying desparately to avoid.

They have always put the responsibility on the team and specifically the players to know what they are putting into their bodies. That's exactly the right position for them to take. It should be the player's responsibility. I think they will suspend these players to uphold that precedent.

I also think there will be a big stink about the whole scenario in the off-season for all of the reasons you stated.

Actually Grady Jackson's agent has already said he's ready to file suit against the NFL if his client is suspended for this, given all the facts. I'm sure he'd file a stay to prevent the suspension from being enforced until the litigation is resolved. (He is also Pat Williams agent, I guess he specializes in fat guys).

I agree on the big can of worms. They'll need to go to court and present all this stuff in public to defend their position. They don't want to set a precedent and they don't want to have this all public so it's a rock and a hard place. Perhaps they will try and find some compromise? Who knows. Hopefully they'll announce something today.

[Fritz]

When you get to the point where you have to say things like "if we win all our games and team X loses all their games, or all but one but the one they win cannot be against a divisional opponent, though if it's a conference opponent it could be against one with a losing record, then we get in!!" you know you're pretty much up the creek.

[denverYooper]

When you get to the point where you have to say things like "if we win all our games and team X loses all their games, or all but one but the one they win cannot be against a divisional opponent, though if it's a conference opponent it could be against one with a losing record, then we get in!!" you know you're pretty much up the creek.

Or if the team's players are hanging out and cheering that the new punter they just hired with 4 games left kicks a 50 yard punt in practice.

[MJZiggy]

When you get to the point where you have to say things like "if we win all our games and team X loses all their games, or all but one but the one they win cannot be against a divisional opponent, though if it's a conference opponent it could be against one with a losing record, then we get in!!" you know you're pretty much up the creek.

Sweetie, our playoff hopes are slimmer than I am.

[bobblehead]

Green Bay has lost 7 of their last 10.

Green Bay is not going to win 4 in a row.

At least we can cheer for the Jets to make the Super Bowl to get us a nice fat draft pick.

Just like I told you Arod would play well and not get hurt in week 1 I'm gonna step out on a limb and predict we run the table. Maybe I'm just being a naive fan, but before we lost to NO me and a friend went over the schedule left and noted that we could actually lose to NO and carolina and still win the division. Granted, this is a fragile small limb...but I did pick Kurt Warner to win the MVP and I still have a good shot at that one.

[Bretsky]

Green Bay has lost 7 of their last 10.

Green Bay is not going to win 4 in a row.

At least we can cheer for the Jets to make the Super Bowl to get us a nice fat draft pick.

Just like I told you Arod would play well and not get hurt in week 1 I'm gonna step out on a limb and predict we run the table. Maybe I'm just being a naive fan, but before we lost to NO me and a friend went over the schedule left and noted that we could actually lose to NO and carolina and still win the division. Granted, this is a fragile small limb...but I did pick Kurt Warner to win the MVP and I still have a good shot at that one.

Honestly I could definitely see us running the table, and on a sidenote to Tex my feelings would not change toward Vanilla Bob

We play a Texan team that is a mess, a Jaguar Team that is a mess, a Lion team that is a mess, and the Bears...who we match up pretty well with because their QB still sucks

Even though we are like 3-7 the past ten games, I still think we win 3 or 4 of these last games.

I'm not sure I agree about having to play that great of a schedule anymore though.

We just need to win some close games.