Derek Jeter: "I've Never Taken Steroids"

Speaking with reporters about Alex Rodriguez for the first time since A-Rod’s steroid fallout, Derek Jeter said that while he supports his teammate he doesn’t condone steroids and has never done them himself.

One thing Jeter was especially peeved with is when people use A-Rod’s excuse with Peter Gammons (paraphrased): "It was the steroid era, all the cool ball players were doing it."

“One thing that’s irritating and really upsets me a lot is when you hear people say that everybody did it,” Jeter said. “Everybody wasn’t doing it.”

But he still made sure that everyone knew he was in full support of A-Rod, albeit somewhat mechanically.

“I think everybody is disappointed,” Jeter said. “He’s disappointed in himself. It’s one of the things that he stressed yesterday. He’s admitted it. Everyone is disappointed, but you’re there to support him and get him through it.”

He even went as far as to say he would give him the benefit of the doubt and accept his cousin story as the truth.

Later on in the interview Jeter laid his denial down upon the reporters.

“I’ve never taken performance-enhancing drugs, I’ve never taken steroids,” Jeter said. “I mean, that’s it.”

So there you have it. Jeter supports A-Rod, but doesn’t support steroids and want you to know that not everybody took them.

At least publicly. Privately, I still think he’s probably pretty disgusted and mostly just embarrassed that it has to happen on his team.