[EmpireWF]

I find it odd and weird that a player who tested positive for steroids and was suspended is eligible to be voted/chosen to the Pro Bowl. Shouldn't there be some standards for guys who were caught cheating?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

I find it odd and weird that a player who tested positive for steroids and was suspended is eligible to be voted/chosen to the Pro Bowl. Shouldn't there be some standards for guys who were caught cheating?

i agree totally

and i found out that the pro bowl vote is 1/3 each players, coaches, and fans so the coaches and players must have voted for him as well as the fans it wasnt just blind popularity

[Spartan64x]

merriman is a pro bowler - if he werent on performance enhancing drugs -just says the word "performance enhancing drugs" should bring another word to everyone's mind about merriman which is "cheater" , and also didnt play i 4 games

and i wouldnt be surprised that he did them in h.s. too

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

I find it odd and weird that a player who tested positive for steroids and was suspended is eligible to be voted/chosen to the Pro Bowl. Shouldn't there be some standards for guys who were caught cheating?

The man did his time...there is no rule against him being a Pro Bowler...I you serve your time or pay your fine then you are clean again in theory...I mean should Melo never be an All-Star now causehe threw a punch?...

Come on guys...do you really want to be judge in your own life bythe standards you pass on these players?...

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

The man did his time...there is no rule against him being a Pro Bowler...I you serve your time or pay your fine then you are clean again in theory...I mean should Melo never be an All-Star now causehe threw a punch?...

Come on guys...do you really want to be judge in your own life bythe standards you pass on these players?...

What Melo did and What Merrimen did are two different things. Melo didn't cheat. Merrimen was found to be a cheater. Granted he served his suspension. However, it just raises a new question about if he's clean now.

If this was MLB and Barry Bonds (or anyone else) served a suspension for testing positive. You can bet he wouldn't be on the All Star Team in the same season.

[legend]

Merriman is a great player, that cannot be denied. He has 16 sacks in just 11 games. He sat out four for testing positive, something he says was from a tainted supplement. He is now a Pro Bowler, and could very well be the Defensive Player of the Year, which Jason Taylor of the Dolphins says would be a shame, sending the wrong message to today's youth. Me, I'm at the point of saying "Who cares what he did?" Does anyone here actually think that three quarters of these guys haven't done steroids with the money that is at stake? These guys will do anything for an advantage, and if you took all the guys who shouldn't be honored for their seasons out of the Pro Bowl you would have a punt,pass, and kick contest left.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

What Melo did and What Merrimen did are two different things. Melo didn't cheat. Merrimen was found to be a cheater. Granted he served his suspension. However, it just raises a new question about if he's clean now.

If this was MLB and Barry Bonds (or anyone else) served a suspension for testing positive. You can bet he wouldn't be on the All Star Team in the same season.

Says who???...Either you have a rule or you don't... I don't believe the rules state, "If you get suspended, well then, you are now a 2nd class citizen that does nto qualify for any awards"...

You guys have an "Idealistic Opinion" at best...if it actually where a rule, then you may have something...until then, let them play.

[Notorious C.L.E.]

In Merriman's defense, he had tested negative for something like twelve samples. If he were doing it consistently, why would he slip up and get caught?

Steroids aside, I don't think anyone can argue that he doesn't deserve to be in Hawaii based on his performance this season.

And Shawne Merriman winning the Defensive Player of the Year wouldn't be a shame because he allegedly took performance enhancers, it would be a shame because he doesn't deserve it. To me, Jason Taylor and Champ Bailey are equally deserving. I love Merriman's talent, but he shouldn't be the Defensive Player of the Year. His name should be for discussional purposes only. It should only be a two horse race.

[Lefty Noob]

Look, I hate these cheaters as much as the next guy, but until they start making rules saying "if you get caught using performance enhancers, you're ineligible for the Pro Bowl/All-Star Game," then they should be named to the team. If the fans and players don't want them there, then they shouldn't vote for them.

That said, comparing this to Mello's suspension for fighting is just silly. Not wanting a guy in the Pro Bowl because he illegally boosted his playing potential and used steroids to gain an unfair advantage on the field is a whole lot different then getting suspended because of a fight. Merriman cheated, and I can see people getting ticked off because a cheater's allowed to be honored for his performance.

Oh, and I agree with C.L.E. -- Jason Taylor is the Defensive Player of the Year

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Look, I hate these cheaters as much as the next guy, but until they start making rules saying "if you get caught using performance enhancers, you're ineligible for the Pro Bowl/All-Star Game," then they should be named to the team. If the fans and players don't want them there, then they shouldn't vote for them.

That said, comparing this to Mello's suspension for fighting is just silly. Not wanting a guy in the Pro Bowl because he illegally boosted his playing potential and used steroids to gain an unfair advantage on the field is a whole lot different then getting suspended because of a fight. Merriman cheated, and I can see people getting ticked off because a cheater's allowed to be honored for his performance.

Oh, and I agree with C.L.E. -- Jason Taylor is the Defensive Player of the Year

The point on Melo is that he too broke a rule...I wanted to point out that once a suspension is served a player has done his time...is it the same of course not...but the lack of logic being used by those wanting to ban Merriman would be the same...in neither case do the rules prevent you from being an All-Star...

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

in neither case do the rules prevent you from being an All-Star...

Yep, they don't. But should they? Should a player, caught using performance enhancers, be disquaified for All-Star Game and postseason awards? It's an interesting debate... I'm leaning towards yes. If there's evidence that you used a banned substance to enhance your play, then you really didn't earn anything. Something for the leagues to consider, anyway.

[ThePundit]

There is no such things as "standards" in the NFL. Otherwise, half the players would be out of the league.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

There is no such things as "standards" in the NFL. Otherwise, half the players would be out of the league.

You are mistaken my good man..there are standards...they may be low standards...but the league has them...or else it would be a chaos akin to sandlot football...or worse...

Noe, does the league turn a blind eye?...depends...look at Mr. ricky Williams playing some CFL ball...