Tagliabue opposes identical testing

Looking up at a lone lawmaker among dozens of empty black leather chairs, a former NFL player testified to Congress about his use of steroids and how that might have contributed to his heart disease.

As someone out of pro football for two decades, Steve Courson said he couldn’t address whether steroid use is prevalent today.

In a hearing that produced far less theater, attention and acrimony than last month’s look at steroids in Major League Baseball, House lawmakers who are skeptical that professional leagues are doing enough moved forward Wednesday in their work toward a law setting drug-testing rules for major U.S. sports.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue told the House Government Reform Committee that such legislation would be a mistake.

“When it comes to process and other considerations, including discipline, we can deal with our own sport better than a uniform standard, which in many cases can become the lowest common denominator,” he said.

Worried that steroid use among pro athletes encourages youths to try the drugs, the committee is examining testing policies of more than a half-dozen sports.

“How is the average American supposed to look at the size, strength and speed of today’s NFL linebackers and not conclude that they might be taking performance-enhancing drugs?” asked committee chairman, Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.

Said Tagliabue: “We don’t feel that there is rampant cheating in our sport.”

The committee never heard an estimate of how widespread steroid use might be in the NFL, in part, perhaps, because they didn’t have many players to ask.

Only two NFL players – both retired – were present. One was Hall of Famer Gene Upshaw, who retired from the game in 1982 and was invited because he is chief executive of the NFL Players’ Association.

The other was Courson, an offensive lineman for Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay from 1978-85. He was on a heart transplant list for four years, but credited diet and exercise with reversing the condition.

The NFL began testing in 1987, added suspensions in 1989, and instituted year-round random testing in 1990. Fifty-four players have been suspended, and Tagliabue said an additional 57 retired after testing positive. A first offense carries a four-game ban.

Seattle releases Davis

After watching him go through two knee surgeries and two seasons spent on injured reserved, the Seattle Seahawks released fullback Chris Davis.

Davis, 25, a Syracuse University product, was a fifth-round pick in the 2003 NFL draft, but never fully recovered from a knee injury he suffered in his first regular-season game.

Jets’ DE Evans retires

New York Jets defensive tackle Josh Evans retired, deciding to end his nine-year career because of a back injury.

The 32-year-old Evans played in one game in 2004 after undergoing season-ending back surgery. He planned to return for 2005 but was slow to recover and decided to call it quits, the team said.

Cowboys sign Glenn

The Dallas Cowboys signed cornerback Aaron Glenn to a two-year deal, providing another upgrade to their evolving defense and giving coach Bill Parcells yet another reunion.

A day after being released by the Houston Texans, Glenn joined the Cowboys to become their third cover man in passing situations. He provides an experienced backup for Terence Newman, who is coming off a shaky season, and free-agent signee Anthony Henry.

Parcells coached Glenn in New York from 1997-99, when Glenn made the Pro Bowl twice while with the Jets.

Sample died of heart disease

Former NFL defensive back Johnny Sample died of heart disease, a spokesman for the medical examiner’s office said. Spokesman Jeff Moran said the cause of Sample’s death Tuesday was arterioslerotic cardiovascular disease.