Derrick Mason Places the Spotlight on Steroid Use in the NFL

Performance enhancing drugs in the NFL may not be as mainstream as they have become in Major League Baseball, but football players could benefit the most from indulging.

The ongoing physical contact in the sport pushes forth the need to use drugs to sustain an elite athletic level throughout the entire season.

Baltimore Ravens receiver Derrick Mason was recently hurled into NFL headlines after referring to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as a joke.

Did he retract his statements after realizing how much publicity it was receiving? No, and it almost seemed like that was the purpose. Mason was a guest on ESPN First Take and sported a shirt with "#joke" in bold white letters.

There are other statements that he made, along with Goodell’s new nickname, that sparked interest in the controversial areas of the National Football League.

Mason has taken issue with Goodell’s push for blood tests to detect human growth hormones (HGH).

He feels as if the procedure is intrusive and that there are other methods to test for such drug use.

However, he also stated that if the commissioner was so concerned about the general health of the players he would not put another two games on the league’s schedule:

“You want to do whatever you have to do to make sure there’s not a competitive edge in this sport.”

So, do you agree?

If there is an addition of two games to the edge of each team’s season, will that propel the use of steroids just for players to maintain their roster position?

Will players feel the need to enhance their bodies unnaturally just to compete among younger athletes?

Antonio Cromartie tweeted recently about Derrick Mason’s comments regarding steroid use:

“Jus was reading an article about HGH testing in the NFL. I'm for it I'm not against it. If u against that mean you hiding something”

“i mean u shouldn't have 2 cheat 2 get an edge just go out an play ball. God created us all differently so us the talents he blessed us with.”

Cromartie is not exactly the poster boy for positivity and the ethical elite, but his comments add to the argument that many outside of the league are agreeing with.

From a moral standpoint, there should not be drug use in a sport where not everyone can compete.

The weaker and less talented do not succeed in these arenas, so the players who are lucky enough to participate should be able to endure the toughest journeys that are presented to them.

I understand both aspects of this argument, however there is only one side that can truly comprehend it all.

The players are the receivers of the treatment that NFL game play brings, good and bad alike. Only they have to endure the pain and cope with the repercussions of choosing to play such an intense sport.

But, if you choose to play, you sign on to deal with everything that the league entails and abide by all of their rules. Right?