Where's the Outrage?

By Scott

I hate the Jets. So, when I heard that New York Jet's linebacker Calvin Pace violated the League's Substance Abuse Policy and will be watching from home for the first 4 weeks of the 2009 season, I was rather pleased. My boundless anticipation of the media circus that would certainly surround the Jets and disrupt their locker room was high. After all, Pace signed a mega-deal last summer worth $42 million with $22 million guaranteed. It was perfect. So, I kicked back, turned on ESPN, and waited for the magic to happen... and I waited, and waited, and waited. Nothing more than a mere mention of the suspension. No screaming Mark Schlereth, nothing.

Obviously, the NFL has gotten somewhat of a free pass on steroids. In fact, steroids in the NFL have infected the league long before it was a problem for baseball. Members of the Steel Curtain admitted to using HGH, and really, just watching old highlight tapes is the only proof you need. It appears as though it's almost safe to assume that over 50-60% of the NFL was juiced in the 80's and 90's, if not more. Even today when some of the league's bigger stars test positive, there's no outrage. Shawn Merriman, Rodney Harrison, Deuce McCallister, Kevin and Pat Williams, and the list goes on. How many people remember, or even knew that they tested positive for that matter. When a baseball player tests positive, his career is forever marked with an invisible asterik. So why is the NFL getting such a free pass?

Roger Goodell needs to take two courses of action: Turn a blind eye like the NFL has done years, or seriously crack down on the substance violators. The NFL is probably the sport that would benefit most from enhanced players, but the ramifications of these guys enduring thousands of violent collisions plus the serious side effects of steroids, the long term health of the players is very, very grim.

But while I waited to hear the outrage over Pace's suspension, I did hear an obnoxious amount of news about Manny Ramirez's return tour. And for the life of me, I just can't grasp why he is getting a free pass and ultimately a celebration for using steroids. Manny cheated the game the exact same way McGwire, Sosa, A-Rod, Clemens, Canseco, and the rest of users did. Just because Manny can put on a show with his childish antics and dreadlocks shouldn't excuse him from the same scrutiny others who have tested positive endured. I'm all for forgiveness, but giving Manny special treatment is ridiculous on every level.