Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison are among those to be interviewed by the NFL over allegations of performance-enhancing drugs made last year.
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, the NFL sent the notice to the players union, informing those involved that the players would be questioned the day training camp opens for the respective teams.
Al-Jazeera America released a documentary report last December claiming a number of NFL players, such as Matthews, Peppers and Harrison, had used performance-enhancing drugs from a man named Charlie Sly. Current free agent linebacker Mike Neal and retired quarterback Peyton Manning were also included in the report.
Both Matthews and Peppers strongly denied the allegations.
The NFL has remained committed to investigating the claims.
“On January 11, 2016, the league notified Messrs. Peppers, Neal, Matthews and Harrison that it had initiated an investigation following the airing of the Al-Jazeera America documentary, which raised serious issues concerning their possible violation of the NFL/NFLPA Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances,” the letter sent to the players’ union said. “The players were further advised that, with their full and timely cooperation, the investigation would be conducted expeditiously and with minimal disruption.”
The Packers open training camp on July 29.
While Manning is no longer in the union, the NFL is still investigating his part in the story. Neal, who doesn’t have a team, will be interviewed at an undisclosed time.
It’s unknown how much solid evidence the NFL has at this point, but the league is clearly taking the report’s claims seriously. More clarity on the situation—including whether or not Matthews, Peppers or Harrison are actually in any kind of real danger—should come once the NFL completes the interviews to start training camp.
