Oct 27, 2008 - 5:28 PM
0 shoutsBy PA SportsTicker
Grady Jackson of the Atlanta Falcons and Pat Williams and Kevin Williams of the Minnesota Vikings are the latest players to be named who reportedly tested positive for a drug on the NFL's list of banned substances.
The trio of defensive tackles and three players with the New Orleans Saints - running back Deuce McAllister and defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant - have been identified in multiple media reports as testing positive for Bumetanide.
The drug is question is a diuretic which can mask the presence of other substances, including steroids.
McAllister said after Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers that he was not surprised to learn of his inclusion on the list, although he insisted he always has tried to play by the rules.
Grant disavowed any knowledge of the report following Sunday's game while Smith said he did not know the full details of the report and declined to comment on it.
"My initial reaction to it, we've been kind of going through this process for a while," McAllister said. "I guess you guys just found out about it at this point.
"But whatever happens that's what's going to happen. We've hired counsel. He's going to do his job to kind of put the case together and however the NFL rules, that's the way it will be."
The Williamses and Jackson were named as part of the investigation in a report by FOX Sports on Sunday night.
Jackson, when contacted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday, did not deny he was on the list of players who tested positive. He directed all questions to his agent, Angelo Wright.
In an e-mail to PA SportsTicker, Wright said he will not comment until he completes his own investigation.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that the league had no comment, and agents for all three New Orleans players and the Williamses could not be reached for comment.
Saints coach Sean Payton said the NFL will deal with the issue.
"It's a league policy. Its not a club's position to comment on," Payton said. "I think the league will handle it and they're the ones that will make the comment in regards to it."
On Friday night, FOX 31 in Denver reported that the league has had a "rash" of positive tests. McAllister and Smith were the only players named by the station, which reported that as many as 10 players tested positive as a result of taking water pills in an effort to lose weight.
Under the league's policy regarding anabolic steroids and related substances, a first violation typically results in a four-game suspension, although it can vary depending on circumstances.
