Packers LB Clay Matthews explains why he agreed to the NFL's PED interview
One of the NFL’s summer subplots was resolved earlier this week when Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison were cleared of any wrongdoing in a league investigation stemming from an Al Jazeera report that tied the players to PED use.
The report also named retired quarterback Peyton Manning and was largely debunked before the NFL threatened to suspend the three active players if they didn’t consent to interviews about the subject. Harrison railed all summer about having to submit to an interview over what he said were bogus allegations, but Matthews and Peppers remained silent on the issue until Thursday.
Matthews told reporters after the Packers’ preseason game against the Chiefs that he didn’t appreciate being forced to interview with the league without evidence. Via USA Today Network-Wisconsin:
But there was a limit to how much of a fight the players were going to put up when they knew they would be cleared if they did the interview – and Matthews said that limit was reached when the league threatened to issue suspensions.
This battle with the NFL is over for now, but, as Matthews said – the war between players and the league on this issue will likely be fought after the current collective bargaining agreement expires following the 2020 season. Until then, the Packers likely are just glad that two of their best defensive players will be able to start the season on time.
