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Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers not sure if they'll talk about PEDs with NFL
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, two Green Bay Packers defenders named in a report that claimed they used performance-enhancing drugs, said Tuesday they don’t know if or when they’ll meet with the NFL to discuss the allegations.
The NFL sent word that it wanted to meet with both players on the first day of Packers training camp after rejecting sworn affidavits from both players, as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ James Harrison.
The NFL cleared recently retired Peyton Manning, the primary player named in the report, of any wrongdoing.
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If the league finds evidence that either or both Packers used PEDs, they could be subject to a fine and suspension. Matthews and Peppers are letting their union speak on their behalf first before agreeing to meet with the league.
“I’ll wait to be advised on what the next step is,” Matthews said. “It has been a long, drawn-out process and we’ll see once that time comes.
“Like I said in the past, I have nothing to hide. It’s not an issue one way or another for me.”
Said Peppers: “I am letting the PA handle that. I have no details on any of that.”
When pressed on whether he might cooperate eventually, Peppers said, “I am not sure. I probably will. But I don’t know any details of the process.”
Once again, the players’ union and the NFL disagree on a serious matter. There has been serious blockades between the two sides on myriad issues the past few years, and the league’s victory in Tom Brady’s deflate-gate case hurt the union — as did the NFL’s thinly veiled explanation of Manning’s innocence including the caveat that he completely cooperated with the investigation, with the unwritten message being: “unlike Brady.”
Matthews and Peppers are pawns in a power struggle, waiting out the process behind the scenes, between the union that represents them and the NFL that wields the almost unilateral power to fine them. Matthews was irate when the allegations were first announced, and he vented accordingly at the time. That anger has simmered, at least on Tuesday it did as he was very comfortable — though brief — when asked about it.
But that doesn’t mean he’s happy that his reputation has potentially taken a hit as the case drags on. Manning getting cleared did appear to take some of the steam out of the allegations, although Matthews and Peppers — and their former teammate, Mike Neal, who is a free agent — wait.
“It’s kind of ridiculous,” Matthews said. “It was good to see Peyton at least cleared in some regards.”
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t appear too worried about it.
“I talked to them back in the season when it first came out,” McCarthy said. “And frankly, I don’t have anything else to really report on it. I have no reason to be concerned based on the conversations I’ve been a part of.
The timing of the investigation — the first day of camp — was bizarre. Matthews laughed when asked about it.
“No, I didn’t get an explanation on any of that,” he said. “It kind of seems like the PA and the NFL are trying to hash some things out and that’s why things have dragged on, I guess.”
But Matthews fell back on what he believes is the truth: that he did nothing wrong.
“The truth will come out,” Matthews said. “Everything I said when the allegations came out I stand by.”
Peppers also said he stands by his previous statement of innocence. And for now they wait to hear whether they will be compelled to speak about it with the league.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
