NFL calls for the player's interview

Latrobe, Pa. (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers' Linebacker James Harrison does not want to face a suspension. He is also not interested in talking to NFL representatives.

The Senior Vice President for Labor Policy and League Affairs of the NFL, Adolpho Birch, sent a letter to the NFL player association on Monday, in which a plan to investigate Harrison, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Mike Neal, if they did not speak to the league, were indefinite until August 25th.

The punishment of the players would end at the discretion of the Commissioner Roger Goodell, as soon as the interviews have been completed, according to the letter received by the Associated Press.

Harrison said he is not interested.

“I will not answer questions for every little thing that some Tom, Dick and Harry come up with,” said Harrison. “If this is the case, someone can come out and say that James Harrison is a pedophile.

Harrison said that he did not want to be suspended, but he is ready to take the situation so far that the quarterback from New England Patriots, Tom Brady, who fought for his four-game defligation suspension for 18 months, to continue to the Supreme Court of the USA before deciding to continue with the legal process. His suspension begins next month.

“When it matters, I want to play, but it is certain rules and things that you have to go through that you don't even have through to start an examination,” said Harrison in the training camp.

Harrison said in June that he would only agree to an interview if it were at home and goodwill was present. He expanded his invitation again on Tuesday.

“As I said, I have no problem with an interview,” said Harrison. “Come to my home. Bring Roger.”

Harrison said that he would “lean in the direction” to speak to the league when the Steelers suggest an interview because he does not want to let his teammates and the organization down.

“I have to deal with it when the time comes,” said Harrison.

Steeler's coach Mike Tomlin said that he was inherent.

“It has nothing to do with us,” said Tomlin. “This is between him and the (NFLPA) and the league. I assume that he will do what he has to do.”

Goodell's authority to punish players in recent years has been an increasingly difficult topic between the Nfland union, and was emphasized by the Brady case and that of Vikings, the Backadrian Peterson, who fought against his suspension for allegations for child abuse.

Harrison, a 14-year-old veteran, is a long-time leader of the Steelers. Matthews and Peppers are important players for the defense of Green Bay, and Neal is currently a free agent who has spent the last six seasons with the packers.

Matthews and Peppers did not speak to reporters on Tuesday. Ted Thompson, General Manager of Green Bay, said the Packers would support the players, but refused to discuss the case.

“Everyone in the world will talk about it, but I will have nothing to say about it, the Packers will have nothing to say until it is solved,” said Thompson. “You would rather have these players than not. I don't say that we would not miss them” if they couldn't play.

The NFL informed the four players for the first time on January 11, about the examination of a report by Al-Jazeera, including allegations by Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern in an anti-aging clinic, about the use of PEDS of several athletes, including the four line backers. Sly later revoked his claims. The retired quarterback Peyton Manning was also quoted in the report, but after a separate investigation, in which the Broncos star granted interviews and provided all records requested by the league investigators.

Birch said in his letter that the league had “at least seven attempts” to arrange interviews with the linebackers. The players have refused to be interviewed without presenting credible evidence. The NFLPA in the name of the players were sent affidavit affidavit, but Birch referred to “completely without details”.

In his explanation, Harrison said, skillful on July 25, from NFLPA to Birch that he had never met with the source of the Al Jazera report or violated with the NFL'sPolicy against performance-enhancing substances.

“Neither the CBA nor politics state that a player has to agree to a personal interview based on random, unfounded oral comments, or a discipline because they do not work with a league examination,” wrote the lawyer of the union, Heather McPhee, then on behalf of Harrison.

Birch quoted Article 46 of the collective agreement to notice the discipline that can be received for non -cooperation or obstruction.

“We cannot accept their one -sided claim that the fleeing, undeferred statements they submitted fulfilled the commitment of the players,” Birch wrote.

Harrison said on Tuesday that he had no chance to read the letter sent by the league and to follow the advice of the union lawyers.

“I will do what I have to do, you will do what you have to do, and we will make this decision when the time comes,” said Harrison. “I only do what I get. It's the right thing.”