NFL teams
Ed Werder, ESPN NFL Insider 9y

Player: NFL treats us 'like criminals'

NFL, Seattle Seahawks

PHOENIX -- Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas was wearing a bandage on his right arm Thursday during the media access period after submitting to a blood draw as part of the NFL's program to test players for HGH.

Thomas, who suffered a separated shoulder in the NFC Championship Game, posted an angry tweet but declined to elaborate when asked.

However, another Seahawks player told ESPN that many players are mad about it.

"We are being treated like criminals, tested like people on parole," the player said.

The NFL's HGH random testing program selects six players each out of eight randomly selected teams per week in the offseason. Random testing for HGH isn't as frequent once training camp begins through the end of postseason.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has said he expects Thomas to be fine for the Super Bowl, and on Wednesday, Thomas detailed the improvement of his shoulder injury.

"I've come so far," Thomas told reporters. "I feel so much better. Each day, it's surprised me because this is my first time with the injury and you don't know what to expect. It has been just positive results from the trainers. They're doing a great job with me."

ESPN's Chris Mortensen contributed to this report.

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