HGH Testing

I've become numb to the whole HGH thing.  Don't even care.  Let 'em all become Andre the Giants and deal with the fallout.  Ain't nothing to me.

Sorry Tdog this is an important subject for the future of football. Getting the human hormone stuff out of the game will result in smaller and more naturally balanced players. The player will also be less athletic. The game may be slower and the players smaller but there will be less injuries and calls to make the game less violent.

That's a great vision but I don't really think it would happen.  Chemists/doctors are always a step ahead of the tests so one way or another players are going to get their hands on things.  Maybe continual ratcheting down ever couple years could keep it in check to some degree but I just can't imagine a truly "clean" NFL.  Then what happens when genetic engineering becomes accessible?

I bet Al has some great ideas.  Somebody should ask him.

Noble thoughts, but an unlikely outcome turnip

The players will just move on to the next great thing from Biogenesis and their ilk as noted by DH

If they ban HGH, will they also ban all of the metabolites and intermediaries that are part of the growth stimulation cascade ?

The NFL players are already looking for ways to boost their endogenous HGH so the baseline is skewed, thus allowing them to dose with impunity

Cheating is the problem, HGH is just the flavor of the month

And let's also note that when it comes to healing, there are some positive affects of HGH separate from bodybuilding.

Given the networks' keen interest in having starters over back-ups...at what point do the money guys mandate HGH for a quicker return to the field in order to maintain ratings ?

Al is in favor of human growth hamburger testing. He's damn near a pioneer.

I guess this means if the players are smaller and slower, anyone will be able to play.

40 tests per week is not enough, that equates to just about 1.25 guys per team per week. Who's gonna keep playing the odds that they wont be 1 of the 53 guys per team to be checked each week?

I'd say something like 5 guys each team per week would even further stop the problem.

But, it's a start.

Regarding the baseline, yea, some guys were using which elevates it some, but not all players were so it will be lower. I have to think quite a few, possibly the majority of players were not using, perhaps I'm naive. But from the baseline study they will see some rather high individual scores indicating usage, and quite a few that indicate normal male levels in that age group. The very high scorers on the baseline should be the first among those checked once the program gets implemented. 

The NFLPA wants to use the baseline to  prove there is a greater variability and higher levels within the NFL population compared to the general public

Their hope is to set the bar high enough to allow some/many to skate through

I believe the 40/ week is just for the population study, they will set the testing frequency for the league after the study is reviewed

Just let it be regulated by team doctors (some sort of protocol) and supervised regularly. That is the most likely scenario to keep players safe. 

Maybe they can just grow humans and then it won't matter.

I wonder if an interesting correlation could be made in what the NFL knows about HGH (and PEDs in general) and concussions. Will we see another lawsuit someday targeting HGH, PEDs, etc., along the lines of "the NFL knew what was happening and looked the other way" and "they didn't do enough to stop it"? How much are team doctors expected to know? Of course they have a good idea if a guy is using, but they work for the team.  

In memory of Lyle Alzado, bigger is not always better or financially rewarding.

The NFL doesn't administer the HGH, the players do that of their own volition, so it would be a very tough case to win for the players

The other one that the players might regret is the long line of guys waiting for their Toradol shot before the game. Lots and lots of players sign up for this one, not sure how many of them actually read about the side effects first....

• chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• swelling or rapid weight gain;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• the first sign of any mouth sores or skin rash, no matter how mild;
• pale skin, easy bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
• fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots !! on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).

Less serious side effects may include:

• upset stomach, mild nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
• mild heartburn, stomach pain, bloating, gas;
• dizziness, headache, drowsiness;
• sweating; or
• ringing in your ears.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, fast/pounding heartbeat, hearing changes (such as ringing in the ears), mental/mood changes (such as confusion, depression), persistent/severe headache, stomach pain, sudden/unexplained weight gain, swelling of the hands or feet, vision changes (such as blurred vision), unusual tiredness.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, change in amount of urine, signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat), symptoms of meningitis (such as unexplained stiff neck, fever).

This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any symptoms of liver damage, including: dark urine, stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting, yellowing eyes/skin.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

Now doesn't that sound like a great way to prep for an NFL game ?

The NFL doctors do administer this one, so there may be some liability here

Does it last more than 4 hours?

Ross Tucker says HGH not rampant

If it does call more women......(copyright Walk Hard, the Dewey Cox Story)