Raiders unconcerned with new Sunday drug tests

Aug. 10, 2011GUTIERREZ ARCHIVE
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Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.comNAPA -- The vibe from Raiders camp on the news that game-day drug testing is on its way this season, as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement?Yeah, it could be disruptive. But if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear. Even if the testing is to be administered annually and randomly."We don't want that to be on some guys' minds," said quarterback Jason Campbell, who is also the Raiders' acting player rep with Zach Miller now in Seattle and Bruce Gradkowski in Cincinnati."Guys have rituals that they try to do before the game, to prepare for the game, so to throw that right in there before the game, that's probably pretty tough. I'm not saying guys have anything to hide, but at the same time, you're trying to prepare for a game. So, it's an on-going process, so we'll see where it's at."
According to the New York Times, NFL drug-testing czar Adolpho Birch said testing could be done before or after games and "would not be disruptive to teams."Also, according to the report, "game-day testing would be limited to performance-enhancing drugs like steroids and human growth hormone, and would not include recreational drugs, like marijuana and cocaine."Offensive lineman Khalif Barnes called it, "probably just a necessary evil. If you're not doing anything, it's nothing too much to worry about."But certain guys do have certain rituals, I guess you want to say, what they do to get ready for games. So to stop and do all this, and some guys might not be able to (urinate) at that time so it could be a whole little hassle, or this or that. Guys are bugging them. But it is what it is. I'm just glad football's back. So whatever we've got to do to get that done, go ahead and get it done."Said safety Tyvon Branch: "This is the first I'm hearing of this. Gameday, a lot of guys have rituals that they get into. But for me, it wouldn't bother me one bit. I usually (urinate) a lot before a game anyway."But testing for HGH involves drawing blood. And it's hard to imagine certain players who are shy of taking pain-killing shots on gameday, submitting to having their blood drawn. On gameday.According to the Times, Birch "declined to reveal if discussions with the players union had already begun to resolve the final details of growth hormone testing."But as Campbell said, "it's an on-going process."