Football
Associated Press 18y

Goodell and Upshaw talking about strengthening drug program

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The NFL and its union are
discussing strengthening their drug program to keep pace with the
increase in the number of performance-enhancing substances and the
efficiency of masking agents.

Commissioner Roger Goodell, in his first news conference since
taking over for Paul Tagliabue last Friday, said Wednesday he has
been discussing the problem with Gene Upshaw, the head of the NFL
Players Association. Among the topics discussed were increasing the
number of tests and perhaps the number of substances tested.

But Goodell, who has been the NFL's chief operating officer the
past six years, noted that the review is nothing new: The union and
the league review the drug testing program annually. The NFL
currently makes approximately 10,000 random tests annually for
performance-enhancing drugs to about 2,000 players.

"I think we've got a lot of great experts who will be able to
work with this," Goodell said. "We've always been at the front of
the line in drug testing and I think we will continue."

Goodell touched on a number of subjects, taking in most cases
the same positions as Tagliabue -- not unexpected given that he's
been on the job for less than a week and was Tagliabue's No. 2 man
for so long.

He said his first priority will be visiting all 32 teams,
starting this week. He will attend Thursday night's opening game in
Pittsburgh featuring the Steelers and Miami Dolphins, then return
for Sunday's contest between the Giants and Colts before going to
Monday night's game in Washington between the Redskins and Vikings.

He actually began talking to players Wednesday, meeting with the
Giants. He got a hug from Michael Strahan, chatted with Tiki Barber
and center Shaun O'Hara, and shook hands with general manager Ernie
Accorsi and coach Tom Coughlin. But Coughlin, who doesn't like his
daily routine interrupted, also appeared to be a little taken aback
when Goodell stopped near the practice field to chat with reporters
before going upstairs to the press box for a more formal session.

Goodell also said:

-- The league is looking at the possibility of wiring players
other than quarterbacks so that there will be fewer false starts by
visitors in noisy stadiums. "Don't get me wrong," Goodell said.
"I love the 12th man. But keeping the game moving without so many
penalties is also very important."

-- He doesn't anticipate the NFL expanding beyond 32 teams in the
near future. But Goodell, who has been the league's point man in
trying to get a franchise back in Los Angeles, said putting an
expansion team in southern California could be the exception.

-- The NFL has reached a new six-year contract with its
officials, who five years ago were locked out for part of the 2001
preseason and the first week of the regular season when they failed
to come to an agreement. The dispute was settled before the second
week, which was postponed by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

-- He is hopeful the league and the union will agree on extending
the labor contract before November 2008, when both sides have the
option to reopen talks. "We hope we can reach an understanding."

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