MLB, Albany DA meet; players may face tests for more drugs (New York Daily News)

T.J. Quinn, the New York Daily News writer who helped break the story of Rick Ankiel last week, writes that Major League Baseball is looking into bolstering it’s drug policy to include such “post-cycle therapy” drugs like Clomid and Nolvadex after meeting with officials in New York State’s district attorney’s office.

Sources also said yesterday that MLB officials were working on a deal with the MLB Players Association to toughen the game’s drug testing, and could soon ban “post-cycle therapy” drugs like Clomid and Nolvadex. Such drugs are not considered performance-enhancers, but are commonly taken by serious steroid and HGH abusers after they complete cycles of drug use. If a baseball player uses testosterone, for example, his body will stop producing the hormone naturally. When he stops using it, he may take a drug like Clomid, a drug commonly given to infertile women, to kick-start his body’s natural production.

And there it is: adding more drugs in an attempt to quiet things down on the public relations front.  We guess beggars can’t be choosers since they’re toughening things up with the therapy drugs, eh?

Update: Kevin Everett’s condition change (WIBV-TV)

Kevin Everett, the Buffalo Bills back-up tight end who injured his spine on Sunday, has voluntary movement of his arms and legs after waking up from his medically induced coma, according to WIBV-TV News 4 in Buffalo, New York.

According to Dr. Andrew Cappuccino, the doctor treating the player, the player has strength in his limbs and it appears likely that the player will walk again after therapy.

On Monday, the same doctor categorized the injury as “catastrophic” and that it was life threatening.

***UPDATED at 6:27 PM EDT***

ESPN has a more extended report, expanding on the WIBV-TV Buffalo report cited earlier.

Sources: Goodell determines Patriots broke rules by taping Jets’ signals (ESPN.com)

On Monday, we told you of the New York Jets’ allegations that the New England Patriots were taping defensive signals being called into the club’s defense.  The league then confiscated the camera — and its contents — and sent it via a sealed package to league offices.

Now comes word that the NFL commissioner has ruled, and it’s something Patriots fans won’t like: they’re guilty of breaking rules.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the New England Patriots violated league rules Sunday when they videotaped defensive signals by the New York Jets’ coaches, league sources have told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

The commissioner is weighing several options, including sanctions that might cause the Pats to forfeit “multiple draft picks” because it is the competitive violation in the wake of a stern warning to all teams since he became commissioner, the sources said.

Despite poor year, ChiSox’s Guillen gets extension (AP/ESPN)

The Chicago White Sox rewarded field boss Ozzie Guillen with a contract extension, the Associated Press is reporting.

Despite a 61-83 record entering Tuesday that’s tied with Florida and Tampa Bay for the poorest record in the major leagues, the club gave him a multi-year extension through 2012.

Tomlin notes that spying isn’t totally shocking (AP/USA Today)

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie coach Mike Tomlin isn’t at all surprised by recent allegations of the New England Patriots stealing signals from the New York Jets via a video camera on the sideline on Sunday.

Spying rumors in the NFL are nothing new, Tomlin said Tuesday, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the allegations were true.

“Usually where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so those rumors are founded on something,” said Tomlin, an NFL assistant coach for six years with Tampa Bay and Minnesota before being hired by Pittsburgh. “No, it’s not totally shocking, no.”

NFL security confiscated the camera from a New England employee during New England’s 38-14 victory Sunday.

According to 1380 ESPN in St. Louis, the St. Louis Rams will be without defensive end Claude Wroten for four games due to the player’s violation of the National Football League’s substance abuse policy.

No other details were given, but an announcement is expected within the next 24 hours.

What do you think about this? (The Big Lead)

You know David Ortiz, the likable Boston Red Sox slugger with the gap toothed grin who pimps VitaminWater for Glaceau. 

Our friends at The Big Lead raise an interesting possibility about “Big Papi”: could he have had “assistance” in his change from doubles hitter to home run masher?

Then Ortiz goes to Boston, and at the same time Barry Bonds is setting records on the left coast, Big Papi explodes. From 2004-2006, he averaged 47 homers while playing 153 games a season. His strikeouts soared, so did his average, and his slugging went through the roof (over .600 each year).

If anything, it’s good debate fodder, especially since ‘Papi’ openly blasted MLB’s steroids two years ago for being discriminatory towards Latin ballplayers and his vociferous defense of Barry Bonds just this year.  That goes without mentioning that a former trainer of his got nabbed for trying to transport steroids into the U.S. and his recent disclosure of having heart difficulties.

Coincidences add up, but do they add up to the truth? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s an interesting conversation nonetheless.

Titans fill defensive void, trade for BryceFisher (ESPN.com)

The Tennessee Titans filled a void on their defensive end depth chart by trading an undisclosed draft choice to the Seattle Seahawks for seven-veteran Bryce Fisher.

Fisher, 30, started all 16 games in 2006 at left end for the Seahawks.

The trade is the second one of the day for Seatte as they acquired quarterback Charlie Frye from Cleveland for another undisclosed pick earlier in the day.

News and notes while mourning the loss of Jenn Sterger from SI.com’s web pages…

Browns trade Frye to Seattle (FOX Sports) Jay Glazer of FOX Sports is reporting that the Cleveland Browns have traded awful starting quarterback Charlie Frye to the Seattle Seahawks.

New format will make for drawn-out postseason (SI.com) Tom Verducci of SI.com writes that with extra off days during this MLB post-season, it might give some teams an advantage, not to mention that the post season could meander into November.

AA Review: MNF Week #1 (Arizona at San Fran) (Awful Announcing) A not-so-flattering review of the broadcasting trio of Mike ‘n Mike ‘n Mike.  Click on it for the hilarious picture, stay for the review.

Do not even THINK about an NFL player dogfighting (Deadspin) The bold and intrepid A.J. Daulerio investigates a rumor of some Philadelphia Eagles involved in dogfighting and comes up with something different: a visit by NFL security at his office.

Pacers forward Williams faces marijuana charge (AP/ESPN)

Indiana Pacers forward Shawne Williams was arrested Tuesday on charges of marijuana possession and driving without a license after an officer pulled over a sport utility vehicle for making an illegal lane change.

Team president Larry Bird released a statement, expressing his disappointment with the former first-round draft pick.

“Although the legal process needs to be followed, we will not accept Shawne putting himself in this position, regardless of innocence or guilt,” Bird said. “This was clearly a bad and unacceptable decision. We will be meeting with Shawne at some point to discuss this and pursue any disciplinary action we can take.”

Police reported that the 6-foot-9 Williams had a blunt cigar-sized marijuana cigarette in his ashtray.

Baseball looking to get involved in drug investigation (New York Times)

The New York Times’ Michael Schmidt — how apropos — reports that officials from Major League Baseball met with the New York State’s district attorney’s office in hopes of getting names that might be involved in their probe of a Florida pharmacy that’s alleged to have distributed PEDs.  Baseball is hoping they can help the investigation, must like the NFL has, in order to not learn via the press the names of players suspected to have received deliveries.

The Albany County district attorney’s office has said it provided the N.F.L. with the names of a player, a coach and a doctor linked to shipments sent from Signature Pharmacy.

On Sept. 1, the league suspended Rodney Harrison, a safety for the New England Patriots, for four games for receiving shipments of human growth hormone, and it suspended Wade Wilson, the quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys, for five games for receiving shipments of human growth hormone. Richard Rydze, a doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was fired in June; a federal investigation revealed that he had purchased human growth hormone and testosterone.

Baseball, however, has not been able to follow a similar procedure. It has been forced to react after the names of players have surfaced in media reports.

Could Major League Baseball finally be learning their lesson on being proactive in PEDs?  Time will tell, but this is a positive step.

Glavine: One more year (NY Post)

The New York Post’s Kevin Kernan reports that recent 300-game winner and future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine has decided that he will return for his 22nd season in the Major Leagues.

“I’m having as much fun as I’ve had in a long time, and that’s a big factor for me,” Glavine told The Post on Sunday night. “It’s a fun team to come to the ballpark with every day. All the factors are there [to coming back].”

Glavine, 41, returning for one more season is testimony to his competitive nature as much as anything. The lefty is a deep thinker who has gone over every possible scenario and, at this point, only an injury would derail him from coming back in 2008.

Kernan reports that it’s likely that Glavine will turn down the club’s option and re-sign for $12 million or so.

Jays’ Wells to have postseason shoulder surgery (ESPN The Magazine)

You drafted Vernon Wells early in your fantasy baseball leagues, thinking he’s capitalize on a season that saw him hit .303 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs.

Now comes word from ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney that the not-so-slugging outfielder will have offseason shoulder surgery to have a cyst removed. According to Olney’s sources, the Jays were aware of the cyst when they awarded him with a seven-year, $126 million deal after last season.

This season, Wells has struggled at the plate, hitting just .251 with 16 homers and 79 RBIs, and a .306 on-base percentage, hardly worthy of an earlier round pick in fantasy drafts.

He is expected to be fully recovered by spring training, so despite him providing small returns this season, he could be a bargain basement draft choice next year.

U.S. rallies to tie North Korea in Cup opener (AP/SI.com)

In rain soaked conditions in Chengdu, China, the U.S. women had to rally behind a late deficit to tie the upstart North Korean women, 2-2.

The U.S. lost Abby Wambach for a short spell after knocked heads with another player in a scramble around the goal and left the field with blood pouring from her face, leaving the Americans with 10 players.

Soon after her return, the American knotted up the score as Heather O’Reilly’s strike in the 69th minute captured an eventual tie.

The U.S. is set to face a highly-talented Swedish club on Friday.

The morning after Alex Smith stepped up late in the fourth quarter by using his legs….

Ravens 20, Bengals 27 — In a game marred with injuries for both clubs, the Cincinnati Bengals won on a fourth quarter seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carson Palmer to wide receiver T.J. Houshyomamma Houshmandzedeh to make the score 27-20. The score proved to be the final tally as a touchdown from Baltimore’s Kyle Boller to tight end Todd Heap was negated due an offensive pass interference call.  A subsequent redzone failed thanks to a Michael Myers pick on the goal line that was intended for Heap.

Among the names with injuries include Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Steve McNair for Baltimore and Cincinnati’s scrapes  include Shayne Graham and Chad Johnson.

Cardinals 17, 49ers 20 — In a game that featured solid defense and ridiculously conservative play calling, the San Francisco 49ers drove 88-yards late in the fourth quarter, capped off by Arnaz Battle’s one yard reverse with 22 seconds remaining, to net the Niners an opening night win on Bill Walsh Field at Monster Park.

All box scores courtesy of NFL.com. Some information compiled from outside sources.

The morning after St. Louis shat the bed against the Cubs…

The Cleveland Indians hold a six-game lead over the second-place Detroit Tigers in the AL Central; Troy Tulowitzki hit his 20th homer of the season, breaking the NL record for homers by a rookie shortstop that was set by Ernie Banks in 1954; Tampa Bay’s Scott Kazmir notched 10 strikeouts for the 12th time in his career and the Brewers dropped back into a first-place tie in the NL Central with the Chicago Cubs after getting clobbered by Pittsburgh.

D’Rays 1, Red Sox 0 — Scott Kazmir outshines Curt Schilling as D-Rays shut down the BoSox, 1-0. Josh Wilson’s sacrifice fly in the fifth drove in the run for the Devil Rays.

Blue Jays 4, Tigers 5 — Magglio Ordonez drove in Placido Polanco to cap a four-run rally in the ninth, spoiling a dazzling performance by Roy Halladay and helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4.

Indians 6, White Sox 2 — The Cleveland Indians scored three runs in the seventh inning — powered by Asdrubal Cabrera’s two-run shot to break a tie — and pulled out a 6-2 win after a 2 hour and 23 minute rain delay in Chicago.

A’s 9, M’s 3 — Dan Johnson’s ninth inning grand slam cemented any hopes for a Seattle Mariners late comeback as the Oakland A’s cruised to a 9-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

More after the jump »