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There are Falcons.
There may be Cowboys.
The full article details the current PR problems of the Falcons, who recently had a home game blacked out. A year ago, they had a 90,000 deep waiting list for tickets.
There may be Cowboys.
Steroid plea linked to Falcons?
Texas trainer claims ties to Atlanta players
By STEVE WYCHE, D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/13/07
The Atlanta Falcons suffered another hit to their tarnished image Tuesday.
A Texas man, ensnarled in an international anabolic steroids sting called "Operation Raw Deal," pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids. The man claims to have ties to the Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys.
David Jacobs, of the Dallas suburb of Plano, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court.
While his plea agreement was sealed, Jacobs said in a signed statement that he was responsible for distributing 40,000 units of anabolic steroids and several thousand units of human growth hormone.
He told KTVT in Dallas-Fort Worth that he would turn over names of professional athletes to prosecutors.
Jacobs ran a supplements store, and on his Web site -- thesupplementoutlet.com -- Jacobs claims to have ties to players from the Falcons and the Cowboys.
Both teams denied knowing of Jacobs or of ever having employed him.
"We have no knowledge of David Jacobs," the Falcons said in a statement. "He was never authorized by the Falcons to work with, assist or train any of our players. Consistent with NFL policies, the league office handles matters such as these."
The Falcons declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.
The National Football League, under commissioner Roger Goodell, has taken a hard stance on player misconduct.
"We look forward to learning the facts underlying today's developments in this case and to assisting the federal investigation in any way possible," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Consistent with our policies, we will deal with any NFL-related involvement promptly and aggressively."
NFL players are tested for steroids and other compounds and chemicals that are agents of steroids or other muscle-enhancing drugs. Penalties are suspensions without pay and possible banishment from the league for multiple violations.
Jacobs was one of several defendants in an international case that targeted the underground trade of steroids, human growth hormone and insulin growth factor.
Calls to Jacobs' attorney, Henry E. Hockeimer Jr., were not returned.
Texas trainer claims ties to Atlanta players
By STEVE WYCHE, D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/13/07
The Atlanta Falcons suffered another hit to their tarnished image Tuesday.
A Texas man, ensnarled in an international anabolic steroids sting called "Operation Raw Deal," pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids. The man claims to have ties to the Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys.
David Jacobs, of the Dallas suburb of Plano, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court.
While his plea agreement was sealed, Jacobs said in a signed statement that he was responsible for distributing 40,000 units of anabolic steroids and several thousand units of human growth hormone.
He told KTVT in Dallas-Fort Worth that he would turn over names of professional athletes to prosecutors.
Jacobs ran a supplements store, and on his Web site -- thesupplementoutlet.com -- Jacobs claims to have ties to players from the Falcons and the Cowboys.
Both teams denied knowing of Jacobs or of ever having employed him.
"We have no knowledge of David Jacobs," the Falcons said in a statement. "He was never authorized by the Falcons to work with, assist or train any of our players. Consistent with NFL policies, the league office handles matters such as these."
The Falcons declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.
The National Football League, under commissioner Roger Goodell, has taken a hard stance on player misconduct.
"We look forward to learning the facts underlying today's developments in this case and to assisting the federal investigation in any way possible," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Consistent with our policies, we will deal with any NFL-related involvement promptly and aggressively."
NFL players are tested for steroids and other compounds and chemicals that are agents of steroids or other muscle-enhancing drugs. Penalties are suspensions without pay and possible banishment from the league for multiple violations.
Jacobs was one of several defendants in an international case that targeted the underground trade of steroids, human growth hormone and insulin growth factor.
Calls to Jacobs' attorney, Henry E. Hockeimer Jr., were not returned.
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