The NFL and NFL Players Association are on the verge of HGH testing and have been for a while now, with widespread reports that an agreement on the appeals process is what’s holding up the negotiations, Mike Garafolo of FOXSports.com reports. A source further clarified the situation to FOX Sports on Thursday by explaining the league has agreed to the union’s demand for neutral arbitration on appeals of HGH violations in most cases, with a few exceptions. The source said the league wants to maintain commissioner Roger Goodell’s authority to hear appeals on violations that do not include a positive test, such as a performance-enhancing-drug violation of the law or demonstrated use without a positive test. The NFL believes Goodell’s giving up the authority to hear appeals in such cases would be in opposition to the collective bargaining agreement and contrary to a drug policy that's been in place for 25 years. The players, on the other hand, believe Goodell has too much power and are therefore eager to take any of it away wherever they can, a source said all 32 of the player representatives who voted on neutral arbitration agreed a third party should hear appeals in all cases, the source said almost all of those player reps cited Goodell's attempt to levy severe suspensions in the Bountygate situation as their reasoning behind their votes. Source: The Redzone
