Eagles lineman facing 10-game ban blasts NFL players union
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson acknowledged facing a 10-game suspension for his second violation of the NFL's drug policy, as he broke his silence Saturday and blasted the players union, accusing it of failing to support the men it's supposed to protect.
"The NFLPA does not stand up for players,” Johnson said after practice. “They don’t check the supplements. They give us an app. Then when you call and ask them, or test positive for something they approve, it doesn’t matter.”
Johnson, who previously tested positive for a banned substance and got a four-game ban in 2014, said it may be hard to take the word of a two-time offender, but insists this time he was strictly using supplements approved by the "Aegis" app provided by the NFLPA.
However, he pointed out, the NFLPA admits it doesn't test the supplements to ensure there's nothing that could trigger a violation.
Now he finds himself stuck in "a nightmare."
"I’ve known this for a couple weeks and having to come out here like nothing’s wrong, that’s been the hardest thing," Johnson told reporters, via the Delaware News Journal.
"I have nothing to hide. So I’m moving forward.”
The NFLPA responded with the following statement:
“We always stand up for the rights of our players. Mr. Johnson’s statements are factually inaccurate and we have been in touch with both Lane and his agent, who now understand the facts. The NFLPA does not approve any supplements or substances. Since 2012 and at the request of player leadership, we have had a partnership with Aegis that provides a mobile app as a resource for players to check listed ingredients on a supplement to see if it is on the banned list.
“We constantly remind all players that even if a supplement is ‘checked green’ the supplement provider may not list certain ingredients therein that a player can test positive for. This slide is used at every team meeting to inform players about the Aegis App and other aspects of the drug policies. This same information is distributed to agents as well.”
Still, Johnson's anger is understandable, especially when you consider he could lose millions over this suspension.
This doesn't mean Johnson can't make the $35.5M in guaranteed money, just means it's not guaranteed anymore. https://t.co/r1ChzuEXfK
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 9, 2016
