The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating claims of inappropriate distribution of painkillers by NFL teams, following a recent lawsuit filed by former NFL players, and have agents on site at several NFL stadiums Sunday to question team doctors and trainers, according to a law enforcement source.
Those interviews and searches were being conducted following Week 11 games -- at MetLife Stadium where the 49ers were the visiting team and with the visiting Buccaneers following their win over the Redskins -- according to the source, as well as in several other locations, including potentially some where games have not yet kicked off or are in progress.
DEA spokesman Rusty Payne confirmed that DEA personnel were questioning NFL medical personnel Sunday after the conclusion of games. He declined to reveal specifics of the investigation but said, "DEA agents are currently interviewing NFL team doctors in several locations as part of an ongoing investigation into potential violations of the CSA."
The Buccaneers announced on Twitter that their inspection was completed at the airport following the game:
RE: DEA Inspection Story Authorities checked in w/our travel party @ BWI & after a 5 min. delay, we proceeded onto our plane w/o incident.
— Buccaneers PR (@BuccaneersPR) November 16, 2014
DEA agents were on site, without notice, to approach the medical staffs of the visiting teams at games and ensure all laws pertaining to the controlled substances are being followed as per the Controlled Substances Act. There are concerns, the source said, teams are distributing painkillers without prescriptions, which is why the DEA officials are asking teams for documentations for prescriptions, checking that proper records are being kept of the distribution of painkillers by doctors and trainers and also investigating whether those medical teams are registered to prescribe and administer controlled substances in the state in which their team is playing.
Per the source, the DEA has reason to believe the CSA is not being adhered to by NFL medical staffs, including treating players outside their "registered location," as well as not fully documenting the use of painkillers by all players and following all requirements of the Controlled Substances Act. With that in mind, the DEA agents are requesting permission to inspect the medical bags of prescriptions drugs, doing so in some instances at the stadiums while the teams were going through Transportation Safety Administration screening in order to get on charter flights home.
Team doctors and trainers were questioned at MetLife on Sunday. (Getty Images)
The DEA is compelled to thoroughly investigate potential charges, as they enforce the CSA, and, with prescription drug use escalating in the United States, they take these matters quite seriously. Doctors, and trainers, are held to an extremely high standard, and while this investigation is administrative and not criminal in nature, and no arrests will be made, the source said any impropriety will be documented. It was unclear what the next step would be should the DEA determine laws were being broken.
Payne said he "would not speculate on future action with regard to DEA registrants under investigation."
The civil suit by former NFL players was filed in a federal court in Northern California in May of 2013, representing a class of 1,300 former NFL players who claimed the league "intentionally, recklessly and negligently" created a culture of drug misuse through its widespread distribution of painkillers and prescription drugs. While the investigation has been going on quietly for months, Sunday marks the first time agents were actively pursuing information on-site at NFL games.
NFL Hot News
Who's in and who's out of the early games in Week 11?
Well, the good news is there aren't a lot of true game-time decisions to watch this morning. The bad news -- and part of the reason for that previous sentence -- is that many players have already been ruled out for today's action. You can read more about those guys at the bottom of this page. This field will be spent updating you on the injured stars who may or may not suit up for the 1 p.m. Eastern kickoffs. That list includes Marshawn Lynch, Mark Ingram, Anthony Fasano and Kyle Rudolph to name a few. Refresh this page consistently as we bring you the latest, starting at about 11:30 a.m.-- In late-afternoon news, Reggie Bush reportedly will not play today versus the Cardinals due to his nagging ankle injury. Joique Bell should see most of the carries against Arizona's stingy run defense. Theo Riddick should be a popular PPR flex option.-- Some very surprising news out of Cleveland as ESPN's Tony Grossi reports that Isaiah Crowell will start at RB today against the Texans. This is a surprise after Terrance West saw more than 20 touches and gained more than 90 rushing yards against the Bengals last week. Everyone in this trio -- West, Crowell and Ben Tate -- scored in Week 10, but it's very difficult to rely on any one of them as more than a low-end RB2, even in a good matchup. This headache will persist through the rest of the season.-- Giants RB Rashad Jennings is active. ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks Jennings will get at least 20 touches today versus the 49ers. He is a mid-range RB2. Newly signed RB Orleans Darkwa is also active for the Giants. Peyton Hillis was placed on injured reserve this week due to a concussion.-- WR Leonard Hankerson is active for the Redskins for the first time this season after tearing his ACL in 2013.-- Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch is active and will play through calf and rib injuries. He is always a must-start, even against a Chiefs defense that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown.-- Chiefs TE Anthony Fasano is inactive. That means it's all systems go for Travis Kelce versus the Seahawks, a defense that has given up 10 touchdowns to TEs. He's a strong TE1 today and will start.-- On the defensive side of things, cornerback Keenan Lewis is active for the Saints today despite a knee injury. He'll make things tough for A.J. Green, but you're still firing up A.J. as at least a low-end WR1.-- As expected, sackmaster Aldon Smith is active for the 49ers. His nine-game suspension ended earlier this week. He will to his best to create choas for Eli Manning and Co.-- RB Jerick McKinnon and TE Kyle Rudolph are active for the Vikings. McKinnon missed some practice time during the week due to a back ailment. Rudolph will be playing in his first game since Week 3 after sports hernia surgery. Both are nice starts against a putrid Bears defense even though they have their flaws (a lack of goal-line carries for McKinnon; Rudolph may be limited in his first game back).-- Saints RB Mark Ingram is active. He should see 25-30 touches again and has a golden matchup versus Cincinnati. He's a fine RB1.-- Bears WR Brandon Marshall is active despite an ankle injury. He may be a little gimpy, but he's still worth starting as a WR1 versus the Vikings. Tight end Martellus Bennett is also active.-- WRs Harry Douglas and Devin Hester are both active for the Falcons. Against the Panthers, Douglas is a desperation WR3. Hester is not on the fantasy radar.-- Montee Ball is active for the Broncos for the first time since he suffered a groin injury in Week 5. However, C.J. Anderson will start against the Rams and is the best fantasy play out of this backfield for Week 11. The matchup isn't very favorable, but Anderson should handle 15-plus touches. Ball may get a goal-line carry but perhaps not much else.-- Saints WR Joseph Morgan is active, but he's only a Hail Mary deep threat.-- Also for the Bears, WR Marquess Wilson is active for the first tme all year after suffering a broken collarbone in the summer. He is another tall target for Jay Cutler at 6-foot-4, but barring an injury to Marshall or Alshon Jeffery, he won't have real fantasy value until 2015.-- Browns WR Andrew Hawkins is active after taking last week off to rest his knee and thigh injuries. He's worth a shot in deep PPR leagues. The Texans have a very poor pass defense.-- Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams is active despite a foot injury. Even against the Falcons' generous run D, he is a poor flex play. Jonathan Stewart should see more touches, including the valuable red-zone looks.Players who have already been ruled out for Week 11 include Carson Palmer, Arian Foster, Ronnie Hillman, Giovani Bernard, Doug Martin, Pierre Thomas, Khiry Robinson, Allen Robinson, and Jordan Cameron. Those players and the impact of their absences will be discussed briefly below. For a full rundown of injuries across the league this week, click the source link below to the NFL's official injury report.
-- Palmer tore the ACL in his left knee for the second time in his career last Sunday. It previously occurred during the 2005-06 playoffs. With him shelved for the rest of the season, Drew Stanton re-enters Arizona's starting lineup. He started three games earlier this year when Palmer was dealing with a right shoulder issue. The Cardinals won two of those three games, but Stanton completed less than half of his throws. Both of his touchdowns went to John Brown, but Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd didn't do a whole lot with him. Anyone in this passing game is not a comfortable start against the Lions.-- Foster has been ruled out due to the groin injury he suffered in Week 9. Despite having time to rest thanks to the Texans' Week 10 bye, Foster did very little in practice this week. Rookie Alfred Blue will get the majority of the carries against Cleveland's 28th-ranked run defense. He is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, but the Texans might stay with their run-first philosophy as a way to take pressure off of quarterback Ryan Mallett, who will make his first career start Sunday. The expected workload puts Blue into RB2 range.-- Hillman will miss at least the next two games due to a foot sprain. C.J. Anderson, who gained 163 yards from scrimmage in Week 10, should lead a committee for the time being that includes Juwan Thompson and Montee Ball, who is ready to play again after missing five games due to a groin injury. Anderson should receive the plurality of the work against St. Louis' improving run defense, but Ball and, to a lesser extent, Thompson are expected to mix in. The uncertainty regarding the roles each of these players will fill Sunday makes none of them more than a mid-range RB2. But Anderson is definitely at the top of that group.-- Bernard is still unable to practice because of a hip injury. There doesn't seem to be a hint as to when he will return. Jeremy Hill will continue to be the Bengals' lead back and is a high-end RB2 against the Saints. Here's hoping Cincinnati can keep that game close enough to stick with the ground game for a full 60 minutes.-- Martin continues to be bothered by an ankle injury. Bobby Rainey should get another start, but rookie Charles Sims, who is expected to get more carries after making his regular-season debut in Week 10, is the better high-risk flex option versus Washington.-- With Thomas and Robinson still out in New Orleans, expect Mark Ingram to continue trampling over the league. Coming off of back-to-back 30-touch games, Ingram should feast on the Bengals' toothless run D. He is an RB1 this week, no doubt.-- Robinson was placed on injured reserve earlier this week due to a broken foot. The Jaguars are just playing out the string, but that's a big loss for Blake Bortles and those who play in PPR leagues. Robinson is leading Jacksonville's receiving corps in targets, receptions and receiving yards by wide margins. Cecil Shorts is expected to pick up the majority of the looks that Robinson has been forced to leave behind.-- Cameron hasn't practiced since suffering his concussion in Week 8. More alarmingly, Browns head coach Mike Pettine said earlier this week that he isn't sure if Cameron will play again in 2014. It's been a big bust of a season for the 2013 breakout tight end. He should be on waiver wires. Jim Dray will start in his place versus Houston.
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