PED Use in the NFL

In the 21st century players using PED's has become so common that even players and coaches rarely bat an eye when it happens.  Fans on the other hand are a different story.

As fans we tend to over-react and often focus on the negative side of things.  The reason is that we don't have the whole story.  The well kept secret is that many coaches and teams turn a blind eye to players using PED's.  This is done because in 2011 during the Lockout the NFL Players Union won the right to not only have the nature of their PED use (what type) kept hidden from the public but also that the first instance of PED abuse can be at max a 4 game suspension.

www.westernjournalism.com

Since 2011 the amount of PED related suspensions has skyrocketed due to the low penalty.  In 2010 there where 5 suspensions for PED use, one year later there were 20 suspensions.  In 2010 there were several 8 game suspensions and even 1 indefinite suspension, all of these instances were first time offenders.  That means that there was a 4 times increase in PED use among players due to the lowered penalty for first time abusers.  This number is only on the rise as this year there have already been 15 suspensions and games have not even been played yet.

(www.nfl.com)

Below is a list of notable players from 2007 to 2010 suspended by the NFL for PED use:
Rodney Harrison
Marcus Stroud
Dwayne Bowe
Santonio Holmes
Brian Cushing
LenDale White

Now here is a list from 2011 to 2014 (the same time frame):
Kevin Williams
Will Smith
Fred Davis
Trent Williams
Tamba Hali
Joe Haden
Aqib Talib
Brandon Browner
Daryl Washington
Justin Blackmon
Bruce Irvin
Josh Gordon
Von Miller
Walter Thurmond
Robert Mathis
Dion Jordan
Lane Johnson

These are just the quality "Star" players, there are countless others who have either appealed (Richard Sherman) or are not very significant players.


So you tell me, coincidence or clearly just a tactic used by players and coaches.