NFL players ratified the new collective bargaining agreement Thursday afternoon, officially ending the lockout after 4½ months. The CBA includes blood testing for human growth hormone testing for the first time, with the goal for it to be implemented by Week 1 of the regular season, a source familiar with the talks told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The NFL will be the first major U.S. professional sports league to use blood testing for HGH. The NFL will be allowed to check each player annually for HGH -- but only after the union is confident in the way testing and appeals will work, according to an Associated Press source. With ratification, players who signed new contracts are now allowed to practice for the first time. Source: ESPN
