Report: The NFL Made 'Mistakes' with Julian Edelman's Pee Sample

So Julian Edelman is in New York today, going before King Joffrey Goodell to appeal his suspension for testing positive for whatever the hell he allegedly tested positive for. And while the fact that the NFL can’t identify what it is – a PED, a banned substance, an unbanned substance, Gamma radiation or a symbiote that came from space and latched onto him like in Spider Man 3 – ought to be enough to get his case thrown out of court, it actually gets worse for the prosecution. From Dan Graziano:

The other [issue], according to a source, involves a mishandling of the documentation and delivery of Edelman’s test results. During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the NFL made mistakes in the manner in which the test results were handled. Edelman is arguing that the mishandling of the evidence is one of the reasons he should be exonerated.

Right. “Mistakes.” The NFL employs a Brute Squad of full time professional piss testers who handle the pee of all 1,600 players, year round. But in the case of this one particular player, they made “mistakes” in the handling of the paper work and his golden sample. The old “mistakes were made” thing. Whoopsie! It could happen to anyone. It just so happened to this guy.

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Again, like with the mystery substance they found but has the boys down at the Piss Lab stymied, this should also be enough to uphold Edelman’s appeal and get his suspension lifted. Add to those the fact these positive tests are supposed to be confidential but this one was carefully leaked to the world, and there’s never been a better reason for a directed verdict of Not Guilty. You can’t convict someone without knowing what crime he committed, with evidence that’s been tampered with and a tainted jury. You simply cannot.

At least you can’t if your investigation is even a little bit on the level. And in no way do I believe this one is. The leak and the unidentifiable substance were strikes one and two. This business of the “mistakes” is strike three. This is a bag job of the highest order. Edelman was set up like a mofo. And we’ve seen more than our share of tainted investigations to know one when we see it. So even though he’s hired superattorney Alex Spiro to handle his appeal, they’re still going to run into the NFL’s brand of justice. Where Roger Goodell has the power to be Judge Judy and executioner. And he’s not about to let his minions go to all this effort just to fuck it up for them by doing the right thing. I’m not sure when we’re expected to hear the results. But I promise you if Julian Edelman’s suspension gets lifted – as it should – I’ll write an “I Love You, Roger Goodell” blog. That’s how confident I am that the fix is in on this whole thing. This is not my first NFL/Patriots bag job.