Stedman Bailey Suspension Overturned, Eligible to Return This Week

Stedman Bailey is eligible to re-join the Rams as part of a new agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA on performance enhancing substances announced this morning.

Bailey was just one of three players specifically named in the announcement who are eligible to play this week along with Denver WR Wes Welker and Dallas CB Orlando Scandrick.

The full policy isn't out yet as the two sides are working on the details on substances of abuse (read: alcohol), but the steroid part is what is fleshed out here. HGH testing will be "fully implemented" as soon as the end of this month. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, gets popped.

The statement also lays out the punishment for those who do:

• A first violation will result in a suspension without pay of up to six games depending on the nature of the violation. Use of a diuretic or masking agent will result in a suspension without pay of two games. Use of a steroid, stimulant, HGH or other banned substance will result in a suspension without pay of four games. Evidence of an attempt to manipulate a test will result in a suspension without pay of six games.
• A second violation of the steroid policy will result in a suspension without pay of 10 games. A third violation will result in banishment for a minimum of two years.

One confusing part I'm eager to see more details on? The policy for offseason violations. The statement says that positive tests in the offseason won't result in a suspension, which is...strange. As far as I know, HGH testing generally picks up any spike from up to three weeks following usage. So what would prevent a player from taking banned substances in the offseason and then stop using them weeks before the season begins? I don't have an answer for that, but hopefully we get that cleared up.

In the meantime, Stedman Bailey is back for the Rams ahead of Sunday's home clash against Dallas. Just...in...time.