The long-awaited meeting between Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and the NFL concerning PED purchasing and use allegations has now taken place and both sides have now left the team’s practice facility without commenting on what took place.
After the meeting reportedly started 35 minutes late, it lasted just 40 minutes. After it concluded, Harrison reportedly got into his truck and left for the team’s Thursday practice.
With the Steelers now set to travel soon for their Friday night preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, it’s doubtful that Harrison will speak to the media concerning Thursday’s interview with the league until sometime after Friday night’s game in New Orleans.
For now, we’ll have to wait and see if Harrison is ultimately cleared of any wrong doing just as recently retired quarterback Peyton Manning was a few weeks ago after he met with the league concerning him being accused of purchasing and using PEDS during an undercover investigation performed by the now defunct Al Jazeera America.
Two of the other three NFL players who were named in the PED accusations by Charlie Sly, Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, reportedly both met with the league on Wednesday.
According to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com, the NFL’s interviews with Harrison, Matthews and Peppers have gone as expected and no new evidence or allegations were raised as a result of them.
Sly, by the way, recanted his accusations a short time after making them. Even so, the league still contended that they had enough evidence to warrant interviewing all players who were named by Sly.
The NFLPA has stated throughout the league’s investigation into the matter that they should be provided proof of evidence to warrant the named players being interviewed. The league, however, said they didn’t believe that was necessary and proceeded to threaten the named players with suspensions should each decide not to interview with them by Aug. 25.
