Congress expands its inquiry
The same Congressional committee that conducted hearings into steroids in baseball has asked NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue for information about how football regulates the performance-enhancing substances.
The Government Reform Committee also said Thursday it will ask for similar data from the NBA, NHL, NCAA, U.S. Track and Field and Major League Soccer.
“As the committee has stated publicly numerous times, its focus on the performance-enhancing drug use in sports is not limited to professional baseball,” the committee said in a letter signed by committee chairman Rep. Tom Davis and ranking Democrat Rep. Henry Waxman.
“As part of this investigation, we are requesting basic information on steroid policies from a number of sports leagues.”
Tagliabue responded that he has directed his staff to be fully responsive to the request.
The committee asked the NFL to provide details on the testing procedures and how they were negotiated between the league and union. It also requested summaries of all test results during the time the testing has taken place, although not the names of individual players.
Clarett gets last shot to impress
A month after Maurice Clarett bombed in Indianapolis, he was clocked at around 4.67 seconds in two 40-yard dashes, according to his agents, while working out for scouts from eight NFL teams in Cortland, Ohio. Clarett unsuccessfully challenged the NFL’s minimum-age requirement in court last year and hasn’t played since leading Ohio State to a national title in 2002 as a freshman.
Jets stadium gets backing
The New York Jets’ plan for a $1.9 billion Manhattan stadium that could also serve as the centerpiece of the 2012 Olympics cleared a major hurdle when its bid was approved by the state agency that owns the proposed site.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board unanimously accepted a $720 million offer from the New York Jets to develop the site over a remote railyard on Manhattan’s West Side, turning down two competing proposals worth more money.
The 75,000-seat stadium is backed by the city and state and would allow the Jets to play in New York for the first time in a quarter-century. The Jets play home games at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Jets president Jay Cross said he hoped construction could begin in July.
Around the league
Fullback Rob Konrad and defensive lineman Kenny Smith signed with the Oakland Raiders. Konrad spent his first six seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him in 1999. Smith played in 30 games over the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. … The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free-agent cornerback Kenny Wright to a one-year contract. Wright spent the last three seasons with the Houston Texans. … Free-agent offensive guard Bennie Anderson signed with the Buffalo Bills. Anderson started the last four years at right guard for the Baltimore Ravens. … Free-agent safety Idrees Bashir signed with the Carolina Panthers. Bashir started 13 games for the Indianapolis Colts last season.