Marcus Gilbert Suspended Four Games For Violation Of NFL’s PED Policy

[polamalubeast]

[Psycho Ward 86]

entirely possible that Gilbert was trying to use PED's to recover from his hamstring injury. Happens all the time. Hamstring/Groin injuries are especially lingering ailments.

Just our luck, we wont have him for the Pats game. Belichick will definitely exploit that

[polamalubeast]

entirely possible that Gilbert was trying to use PED's to recover from his hamstring injury. Happens all the time. Hamstring/Groin injuries are especially lingering ailments.

Just our luck, we wont have him for the Pats game. Belichick will definitely exploit that

Fortunately the pass rush of the pats is their weakness ...

[SteelerFanInStl]

WTF? Dumb ass!

[Mojouw]

Well there is Sutton's spot on the 53 for 4 games.

Seriously though? Can' these guys afford someone smart enough to help them cheat on these things?

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Well there is Sutton's spot on the 53 for 4 games.

Seriously though? Can' these guys afford someone smart enough to help them cheat on these things?

Maybe the NFL has enough money to hire smarter guys to catch who the cheaters hire.

Its just dumb. If you know what it on the banned list, then don't take it.

[86WARD]

I don’t get it...someone is stupid...got to really worry about an injury now. One more injury on the line and they could be in trouble.

4 tough games coming up too.

[st33lersguy]

This sucks

[DesertSteel]

No big deal.

[Craic]

Maybe the NFL has enough money to hire smarter guys to catch who the cheaters hire.

Its just dumb. If you know what it on the banned list, then don't take it.

We don't agree often, but this is my thought exactly. However, I am waiting to hear what Gilbert says about it. Was it a true failed test, a missed test, a diluted sample? Was he prescribed something that popped in the exam? In the end, it's still his responsibility to stay clean, but I am interested in the circumstances.

[teegre]

No big deal.

He’s arguably our best O-lineman...

[AtlantaDan]

We don't agree often, but this is my thought exactly. However, I am waiting to hear what Gilbert says about it. Was it a true failed test, a missed test, a diluted sample? Was he prescribed something that popped in the exam? In the end, it's still his responsibility to stay clean, but I am interested in the circumstances.

As always it was "inadvertent." Moron.

For once I wish someone would say "I took a banned substance and thought I could get away with it since other players have taken it and not been caught. My bad."

[DesertSteel]

He’s arguably our best O-lineman...

He’s already missed games this year. They managed. They will again and have him back for the playoffs. No big deal.

- - - Updated - - -

“Inadvertent?” I’m not buying.

[Craic]

As always it was "inadvertent." Moron.

For once I wish someone would say "I took a banned substance and thought I could get away with it since other players have taken it and not been caught. My bad."

Again, I wonder the circumstances. While I, too, doubt the "inadvertent" label, I also realize there are several ways it could have happened.

[Mojouw]

This continually amazes me that I'm expected to believe that between the team docs and the players private docs - they can't figure out what is banned and not banned.

I mean I know the reality is that all these guys are taking a boatload of chemicals in a desperate attempt to keep their bodies from falling apart - but man oh man -- you'd think they would get better at chemistry!

[Born2Steel]

4 games, at least not for the rest of the season. He'll be back for the playoffs.

[DesertSteel]

I guess we now know why T Jake Rodgers was signed to the practice squad.

[AtlantaDan]

4 games, at least not for the rest of the season. He'll be back for the playoffs.

The game Gilbert misses week 15 at Heinz is the equivalent of a playoff game for the Steelers. Lose that game to the Pats and the prospect of winning a playoff game at Foxboro in January is highly unlikely.

[Born2Steel]

The game Gilbert misses week 15 at Heinz is a playoff game for the Steelers. Lose that game to the Pats and the prospect of winning a playoff game at Foxboro in January is highly unlikely.

Ok...but are we really saying the same thing? The game against the Pats will 'FEEL' like a playoff game, sure.

[steelreserve]

This continually amazes me that I'm expected to believe that between the team docs and the players private docs - they can't figure out what is banned and not banned.

I mean I know the reality is that all these guys are taking a boatload of chemicals in a desperate attempt to keep their bodies from falling apart - but man oh man -- you'd think they would get better at chemistry!

It's a load of bullshit. I remember around the time of the Barry Bonds case, a sports medicine doctor (who treated a lot of college and professional athletes) saying that if you are an athlete at that level ... so many people are paying so much attention to what substances go into your body, that there is basically no way you are going to take a banned drug by accident. Maybe once in a great while there is an exceptional circumstance, like they change what's on the banned list and it's missed - I think this happened to a famous tennis player as well as some swimmers.

Also said that most people who use banned substances are VERY aware of testing policies and it's pretty simple to plan around that. The ones who get caught are the ones who are out of control because think they're invulnerable (no surprise, a fairly common mental side effect of steroids) so they push it too far and mess up.

It's too bad because Gilbert was a guy I really was rooting for over his career. Seemed like a very down-to-earth individual and worked hard to get better. It would be a shame if he turned out to be a punk.

[Psycho Ward 86]

No big deal.

Chris Hubbard got bullied in Gilbert's absence, especially against the Bears and Jaguars. It matters

[AtlantaDan]

Ok...but are we really saying the same thing? The game against the Pats will 'FEEL' like a playoff game, sure.

Not for me - if you lose a playoff game you are not going to the Super Bowl

If the Steelers lose to the Patriots they are going to be the #2 or #3 AFC seed in the AFC and it is highly probable they will need to beat the Pats in Foxboro in the playoffs - anything is possible but since the Steelers have never beaten Brady in Foxboro it is even more probable that the Steelers will lose in Foxboro

So I am pretty confident that if the Steelers lose to the Pats in week 15 they are not going to the Super Bowl - IMO that makes that game the equivalent of a playoff game for the Steelers

[Born2Steel]

Not for me - if you lose a playoff game you are not going to the Super Bowl

If the Steelers lose to the Patriots they are going to be the #2 or #3 AFC seed in the AFC and it is highly probable they will need to beat the Pats in Foxboro in the playoffs - anything is possible but since the Steelers have never beaten Brady in Foxboro it is even more probable that the Steelers will lose in Foxboro

So I am pretty confident that if the Steelers lose to the Pats in week 15 they are not going to the Super Bowl - IMO that makes that game the equivalent of a playoff game for the Steelers

Wha????? All I said was Gilbert will be back for the playoffs.

[AtlantaDan]

Wha????? All I said was Gilbert will be back for the playoffs.

Which I took to mean it could be worse because he will be back for the games that matter the most

What I am saying is that missing the Pats at Heinz is as important as missing a playoff game for the impact of that game on the Steelers going to the Super Bowl if they lose

[BnG_Hevn]

NFL players are among the best athletes in the world.

If an NFL player needs to take physical enhancing drugs, is said NFL player among the best athletes in the world?

[teegre]

He’s already missed games this year. They managed. They will again and have him back for the playoffs. No big deal.

To quote Chris Rock:
“You could drive a car with your feet, if you wanted to... that doesn’t make it a good idea.”

[SteelerFanInStl]

Chris Hubbard got bullied in Gilbert's absence, especially against the Bears and Jaguars. It matters

I agree. Not a fan of Hubbard at all.

[GBMelBlount]

Some teams have multiple players like Gilbert on IR for the season.

We are blessed to have a healthy team (so far) and Gilbert back and fresh before the playoffs.

[DesertSteel]

To quote Chris Rock:
“You could drive a car with your feet, if you wanted to... that doesn’t make it a good idea.”

Well I'm pretty sure this wasn't an idea.... just plain stupidity on the part of Gilbert. Point is that we've been extremely fortunate with injuries and suspensions so far this year, even with this added. We have a chance to enter the playoffs full throttle. For this reason I'm optimistic.

[Shoes]