NFL Finds No Evidence Players Used Prohibited Substances

By ESPN

The NFL has found "no credible evidence" that the Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison and the Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers used or were provided with prohibited substances after an investigation into allegations made in a documentary by Al-Jazeera.

The three players were interviewed last week at their team facilities.

An NFL statement said the investigation, which started in January, "involved witness interviews, a review of relevant records and other materials, electronic research, and laboratory analysis and review.''

After the interviews last week, a source close to the situation told ESPN that the players were not confronted with any new evidence or allegations.

Free-agent defensive end Mike Neal is the other player the league interviewed in connection with its investigation into the Al-Jazeera report. Neal is still being investigated by the league for a connection with Charlie Sly, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Sly was the Indiana pharmacist at the center of the Al-Jazeera documentary, which aired Dec. 27.

The league interviewed retired quarterback Peyton Manning, who also was named in the report, earlier this offseason and issued a statement last month clearing his name.

Baseball players Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman, who also were named in the report, were publicly cleared by Major League Baseball in August after it concluded its investigation.

Chicago Bears

History suggests coach John Fox will sit the bulk of his starters on Thursday and maybe veterans Zach Miller and Eddie Royal, who have not played a single preseason snap because of concussions. "Oh, I don't know," Miller said when asked if he needs to play in the exhibition finale. "We've got to play football. I've got be ready either way, whether it's Thursday or Week 1. When that time comes, we'll be ready to play some football." This marks the 13th straight year in which the Bears and Browns face off in the final game of the preseason. Over that span, the series is tied at 6-6. -- Jeff Dickerson

Indianapolis Colts

Coach Chuck Pagano didn't say who wouldn't play in his team's preseason finale Thursday at Cincinnati, but it's a safe bet that quarterback Andrew Luck, receiver T.Y. Hilton, running back Frank Gore and any other key player on the Colts' roster won't play a snap. That is not only because it's the fourth preseason game but also because the Colts aren't in a position to lose any more important players. They've been ravaged by injuries to starters including Vontae Davis, Clayton Geathers and Kendall Langford this preseason. -- Mike Wells

Wednesday, August 31 Scoreboard

Washington 20, Tampa Bay 13    

Thursday, September 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

New England at New York Giants, 6 p.m.

New York Jets at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Jacksonville at Atlanta , 6 p.m.

Tennessee at Miami, 6 p.m.

Buffalo at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Carolina, 6:30 p.m.

Baltimore at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Green Bay at Kansas City, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Houston at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Denver at Arizona, 8:30 p.m.

Seattle at Oakland Raiders, 9 p.m.

San Francisco at San Diego, 9 p.m.