Officials of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions have confirmed that federal drug enforcement agents visited their teams over the weekend to check on how their medical staffs handled prescription drugs.
Bengals officials said Monday that Drug Enforcement Administration agents from New York had met with the team at a New Orleans airport and had asked to see registrations and paperwork for controlled substances being carried by Cincinnati's medical staff. No problems were found, the officials said.
The Bengals said in a short statement that the team had never had any problems with prescriptions or controlled substances. The statement said that 'any issues which might be present elsewhere are not present within our organization.'
Detroit Coach Jim Caldwell said the Lions were one of the teams that had been questioned by agents.
When asked if the Lions had been approached, a team spokesman referred to comments Caldwell made to WXYZ, a Detroit-area television station. Caldwell told the station, 'From what I understand, they did interview one of our doctors, and I know we were in compliance.'
A spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration said Sunday that agents were interviewing N.F.L. team doctors in several locations. The D.E.A. did not focus on specific teams, but investigators used the spot checks to try to measure whether visiting N.F.L. clubs were complying with federal law.
The unannounced inspections are part of an investigation prompted by claims from former players that teams had dispensed prescription drugs improperly for decades.
Employees of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks were also checked after road games Sunday.
JAGUARS CORNERBACK CHARGED Dwayne Gratz, a starting cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, missed practice after being arrested on misdemeanor charges in Miami.
A report from the Miami Beach police said Gratz had been arrested at 5:53 a.m. Sunday after he tried to use bubble gum to purchase items from a store. He argued with an employee, refused to leave the store after the police arrived and had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, according to the report.
Gratz, a third-round draft pick in 2013 who has started seven games this season, was charged with disorderly intoxication and trespassing after being given a warning. He was released from jail Monday after posting bail.
Jaguars Coach Gus Bradley said: 'I'll meet with him, and we'll handle it internally. It's not good what took place.'
RIVERS'S RIBS AT ISSUE San Diego Chargers Coach Mike McCoy disputed a comment by the star tight end Antonio Gates, who said quarterback Philip Rivers had suffered a severe rib injury Sunday against Oakland.
After the game, commenting on Rivers's toughness, Gates said: 'For those who don't know, he's been dealing with a rib injury, a very severe rib injury. So he's been toughing it out these last three, four weeks.'
McCoy said that Rivers had 'never missed a snap in practice' and that he had not been in treatment with the team's trainer, 'so I would not say 'severe injury.' '
BILLS' JACKSON TO RETURN With the Buffalo Bills' playoff hopes fading fast after two consecutive losses, running back Fred Jackson, the team captain and inspirational leader, said he was eagerly anticipating the chance to play after missing two of the last three games with a groin injury.
'We need all hands on deck,' Jackson said. 'I need 100 percent for me to be out there and help my teammates. I think they want me out there. I want to be out there. I want to try to make some plays and get this thing turned around.'
INJURY REPORT The Cleveland Browns may have lost the starting linebackers Karlos Dansby and Jabaal Sheard for the season. Dansby injured his left knee in Sunday's loss to Houston. Sheard has a foot injury. ... New Orleans Saints receiver Brandin Cooks had surgery on a broken thumb, his agent said, adding that Cooks's recovery time was expected to be four to six weeks. Saints safety Rafael Bush said he had a fractured bone in his lower right leg. ... The starting Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, ending his season. McKelvin was hurt in a loss at Miami on Thursday.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, November 17, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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