The NFL Players Association has approved the league's drug policy proposal after a vote by player reps, the union announced Friday. The new policy will institute human growth hormone testing for the first time and offers sweeping changes to the league's drug policy. The threshold for positive marijuana tests was raised and offseason amphetamine-positive tests will go from the performance enhancing drug policy to the substances of abuse policy.
Update: NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello tweets, "We have not yet reached an agreement with the union on revisions to our drug program. There continue to be significant unresolved issues." This is clearly still a fluid situation.
Mike Garafolo is reporting the NFLPA isn't yet confirming the names of players who will be cleared to return to action but a source says it's in the range of 20.
It's widely expected Wes Welker could theoretically play this weekend once the league officially signs off on the term sheet (expected Saturday). However, we wouldn't hold our breath that a player who missed practice all week would suit up on Sunday.
It is widely being reported that Josh Gordon's suspension will be reduced to 10 games, but nothing has been made official and that result does not entirely make sense. The official release from the NFLPA can be found here. If the 10 game suspension turns out to be correct, it leaves owners with a tough decision: tremendous upside when he returns for your playoff push or an extra roster spot to use until then.
