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2B Daily News – Thursday, November 29, 2012 NFL Uptick in players testing positive for amphetamines 49ERS (Continued from page 1B) OAKLAND (AP) — Right-handed reliever Pat Neshek and the Oakland Athletics have reached agreement on a one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration. The AL West champion A's rallied around Neshek after his newborn son, Gehrig, died 23 hours after his birth just before the playoffs began last month. Oakland players took the field wearing patches in the baby's honor during their five-game division series loss to the Detroit Tigers. He went 2-1 with a 1.37 ERA in 24 appearances with the A's after being acquired from Baltimore on Aug. 3 for cash considerations. Neshek was 3-2 with 11 saves and a 2.66 ERA in 35 Triple-A appearances before joining Oakland. a great chance to lead this team and show we're a great team and we can go into the playoffs.'' Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick, hardly looked happy on the sideline during Sunday's win over the Saints after being medically cleared from a concussion suffered in the first half of a 24-24 tie against St. Louis on Nov. 11. ''That's coach's decision,'' running back Frank Gore said. ''He said before he's going to go with the hot hand, and he's sure that Kap's got the hot hand right now. I just feel we've got two good quarterbacks who can help us win. That's a plus for the team.'' As the questions about his quarterback decision kept coming from every direction, Harbaugh repeatedly said, ''I think I've covered and plowed that ground about as thoroughly as it can be plowed.'' Losing his job is nothing new for Smith in what has been a roller coaster eight-year NFL career filled with promotions and demotions. Even after his last full game was an impressive win on Monday Night Football at Arizona on Oct. 29 that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. In a near-perfect night, Smith completed 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He had a 157.1 passer rating and connected with nine different receivers. Smith bounced from starter to the bench throughout 2010 after coming into the year entrenched as the starter — and that's been his story each year except for during last year's turnaround season. He is 19-5-1 in two years playing for former NFL quarterback Har- BOOST after averaging 21.4 points per gamer over the first eight weeks. This has been a rough season for McFadden, who emerged as one of the NFL's most dangerous backs the past two seasons before reverting back to his early career struggles this season. McFadden has averaged more than 4 yards a carry only once all season, when he rushed for 113 yards on 18 carries against Pittsburgh in September. His 3.3 yards per carry for the season is the worst of any back with at least 100 carries. McFadden averaged more than 5 yards a carry the past two seasons as he shined under play-caller Hue Jackson. When the team went back to more of the zone blocking schemes the Raiders used early in McFadden's career, he once again struggled. But he still strikes fear in opposing defenses. ''He's explosive,'' Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. ''He's one of those guys that can score when he has the ball in his hands. It doesn't matter where you're at on the field, they can be on their 1-yard line and this guy can score. When you have players on the field that can score touchdowns, that's what you want. With him not being in there, of course that's hurt them. With him being in there, it's obviously going to help them.'' den and Tim Clark of South Africa have used broomhandle putters all their careers, and they have talked about a possible legal recourse. Neither could be reached for comment. Pettersson was in South Africa for the Nedbank Challenge and did not return a phone call. Davis said there was no concern about a lawsuit. ''We need to do what we think is right,'' Davis said. ''And shame on us if we are scared of litigation for doing the right thing.'' Even some of those who support a ban on the anchored stroke — a group that includes Tiger Woods — wonder what took the governing bodies so long. Such putting strokes date as far back as the 1930s, and they first gained some measure of notoriety when Orville Moody won the 1989 U.S. Senior Open with a long putter held against his chest. Paul Azinger won the 2000 Sony Open with a putter he pressed into his belly. But the longer putters got serious attention when majors were won last year — by Bradley at the PGA, followed by Simpson at the U.S. Open. Then, Ernie Els won the British Open this year. Adding to the attention was Guan Tianlang, the 14year-old from China who used a belly putter this month when he won the Asia Pacific Amateur, which earned him a spot in the Masters. He will be the youngest player ever at Augusta National. Guan started using the belly putter about six months before his big win. Even so, Dawson and Davis said the catalyst for a new rule was not who was winning tournaments, but the number of players switching to that style of putting. Their research showed no more than 4 percent of players on the PGA Tour used the clubs for several years. It went to 6 percent in 2006, and then to 11 percent in 2011 and to 15 percent this year, with some events having as much as 25 percent of the players using the long clubs. There was no empirical data to suggest a long putter made golf easier, and they made it clear that the proposed rule was not about performance. ''This is about defining the game and defining what is a stroke in golf,'' Dawson said. Why now? Davis said it was one thing for a few players who use a long putter because they struggled on the greens or had health issues. What changed was the spike in number of players using the putters, as well as instructors believing it was a better way to putt. ''It was this recent increase, it was this recent advocacy of players, instructors, to move toward the anchored stroke that really got us to the point where we said, 'We need to act in the best interests of the game moving forward,''' Davis said. ''This is all about the future of the game. It's about us defining the game, defining a stroke, clarifying a very controversial and divisive situation.'' The penalty for anchoring the club would be loss of hole in match play and a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. The PGA Tour, European Tour and LPGA Tour said it would evaluate the proposed rule with its players. The PGA Tour has a mandatory players' meeting in San Diego at the end of January, which former U.S. Amateur champion Colt Knost tweeted would be a lively session. Knost uses a belly putter. The PGA of America said it was concerned that such a ban would drive people from the game. ''As our mission is to grow the game ... we are asking them to seriously consider the impact this proposed ban may have on people's enjoyment of the game and the overall growth of the game,'' PGA president Ted Bishop said. Woods walked quickly by reporters after his pro-am round at the World Challenge, saying only, ''I think it's a good one,'' when asked about the new rule. On Tuesday, he said using an anchored stroke takes away from nerves in the hands. ''I just believe that the art of putting is swinging the club and controlling nerves,'' Woods said Tuesday. ''And having it as a fixed point, as I was saying all year, is something that's not in the traditions of the game. We swing all other 13 clubs. I think the putter should be the same.'' NBA NEW YORK (AP) — More NFL players are testing positive for amphetamines, a class of substances that includes the ADHD drug Adderall. Since the start of last season, more than 10 players suspended for failing drug tests have publicly blamed it on taking the stimulant. And while the league doesn't identify the substance when a player is penalized, senior vice president Adolpho Birch acknowledges that the number of positives for amphetamines has increased. Because the type of drug isn't disclosed under the NFL's agreement with the union, nothing prevents a player from claiming he took Adderall when, in fact, he tested positive for a steroid or another stimulant. The tests don't differentiate between Adderall and other amphetamines, Birch said, but he does believe Adderall abuse is on the rise in the league. With many college students using the drug without a prescription to study deep into the night, he said, players come into the NFL accustomed to the idea of popping the pill for a boost. ''It's not a secret that it's a societal trend,'' Birch, who oversees law and labor policy for the league, said Wednesday. ''I think we're starting to see some of the effects of that trend.'' Players diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, can apply for a therapeutic use exemption that permits them to take Adderall. An independent administrator reviews their medical history and diagnostic tests to approve or reject the application. Several players who have tested positive said they had a prescription for Adderall but not an exemption. New York Giants rookie safety Will Hill said in October before starting his four-game suspension that he didn't know when he received a prescription that Adderall was on the league's list of banned substances. He appealed the suspension and lost. ''I accept full responsibility for this situation, and it won't happen again,'' Hill said. Dr. Steven Pliszka, a psychiatry professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, said about 4 percent of the general population has ADHD. The number could be even higher among professional athletes, he said, because some traits of the disorder may actually help them in sports. But Birch said the percentage of NFL players with exemptions was, in fact, lower than the expected number for the general population. That's a significant difference from Major League Baseball, where more than 100 players have been granted exemptions in recent seasons. That works out to close to 9 percent of all the players on 40-man rosters. The percentage of players being treated for the condition is roughly 10 percent. Dr. Pliszka is skeptical that people can develop ADHD as adults. To prove a diagnosis, he said, a player should be able to document he had trouble concentrating back in school. Adderall is prescribed to help increase focus and reduce impulsivity in people with ADHD. For athletes, its benefits are different than what fans usually associate with performance-enhancing drugs. ''It's not going to help you hit harder, run faster — not at all like steroids,'' Dr. Pliszka said. But like those college kids cramming for a final, NFL players can get a boost from the drug. ''It would absolutely give you a competitive advantage. Fatigue, focus, concentration, maybe aggression,'' said Dr. Michael Joyner, a sports physiologist and anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. ''And if they were using it during training, the ability to train harder, longer, the ability to have fewer bad days.'' In Seattle, the Seahawks' starting cornerbacks face four-game suspensions after failing tests for performance-enhancing drugs, though which exactly substance was not clear. Fullback Michael Robinson, the team's union rep, vented Wednesday about the league's drug policy. ''When I think of performance enhancing, I think of making me run faster, jump higher. I mean, really getting an edge on somebody,'' he said. ''I just wish they would take some of those substances and clear it up so we know what exactly is going on.'' Birch insisted the NFL does all it can to inform players that Adderall is a banned substance. ''There's ample education and awareness out there if the player is attuned to it,'' he said. ATHLETICS Reliever Neshek reaches 1-year agreement (Continued from page 1B) does when he touches the ball. You want to get your playmakers the ball.'' But despite strong play from Reece, the offense as a whole has struggled, scoring 15.7 points per game the past three weeks PUTTER (Continued from page 1B) Fred Couples, the 53year-old former Masters champion, uses a belly putter, though it rests against his stomach — it is not anchored — and the end of the club moves freely. He was not sure if that would be allowed, and he wasn't sure golf needed such a rule anyway. Couples' argument is that if the anchored stroke was that much of an advantage, everyone would be using it. None of the top 20 players on the PGA Tour's most reliable putting statistic used an anchored putting stroke. ''In my opinion, they haven't screwed up golf yet, and I don't think this will screw it up,'' Couples said. ''But I feel bad for Keegan Bradley, because I'll tell you what: If they banned it tomorrow and we played a tournament, I think I'll be a better player than Keegan. And I don't think that's fair.'' Bradley and U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson, who both use a belly putter, had said they would go along with the new rule, though they weren't happy about it. Simpson already has been working with a conventional putter. Bradley used a regular putter until he got to college. ''That doesn't take away from the last five years of hours of practice I've put in'' on the belly putter, he said. ''I'm going to really in the next couple of years figure out a way that's best for me to putt.'' Carl Pettersson of Swe- WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific W L WARRIORS 8 Pct GB baugh. Smith was expected to speak with reporters Thursday, the team said. In the locker room, players have said all the right things: supporting both quarterbacks, while reiterating it is Harbaugh's call to make. ''It's getting very old. It's kind of taking away from what the Niners are doing, all this fuss about our quarterback situation,'' Walker said. ''(Alex) definitely didn't lose his job. Kap is just playing well, so that's what I think you're seeing right now. A lot of guys on offense are feeding off it. So we're just going to go with Kap until Jim Harbaugh decides otherwise.'' Walker knows it's probably not over yet, though, as Smith very well could get another shot sometime over the final five games. Also Wednesday, Harbaugh said kicker David Akers is nursing an undisclosed injury, and that's why the 49ers worked out kickers Tuesday. Akers looked strong at the start of practice, kicking field goals from 50 yards and demonstrating ample leg strength and accuracy. He missed what would have been the game-winning field goal in overtime last time against the Rams, then missed one from 50 yards in the fourth quarter and had another blocked from 33 yards out Sunday at New Orleans. Akers was clipped by a Saints player after his fourth extra-point attempt in the third quarter but showed no visible signs of injury. He has missed four of his last seven tries from 40 to 49 yards and eight of his last 21 overall. He ranks 29th in field-goal percentage at 70.4 after setting a single-season NFL record last season with 44 made field goals. ''David Akers is working through something and we want to make sure we have a Plan B,'' Harbaugh said. NFL AFC West W 8 4 3 1 L 3 7 8 10 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .727 .364 .273 .091 PF 318 245 218 161 PA 221 237 356 301 W 8 5 4 4 L 3 6 7 7 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .727 .455 .364 .364 PF 407 211 221 243 PA 244 226 290 319 W Houston 10 Indianapolis 7 Tennessee 4 Jacksonville 2 North W Baltimore 9 Pittsburgh 6 Cincinnati 6 Cleveland 3 L 1 4 7 9 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .909 .636 .364 .182 PF 327 230 238 188 PA 211 273 335 308 L 2 5 5 8 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .818 .545 .545 .273 PF 283 231 282 209 PA 219 210 247 248 Denver San Diego RAIDERS Kansas City East N. England Miami N.Y. Jets Buffalo South 6 .571 — L.A. Clippers 8 7 8 .467 1.5 Phoenix 7 9 .438 2 KINGS 4 10 .286 4 NFC 6 .571 — L.A. Lakers Southwest W L Pct GB Memphis 11 2 .846 .5 San Antonio 13 3 .813 — Houston 7 8 .467 5.5 Dallas 7 9 .438 6 New Orleans 4 10 .286 8 Northwest W L Pct GB Oklahoma City 12 4 .750 — Utah 9 7 .563 3 Denver 8 7 .533 3.5 Minnesota 6 7 .462 4.5 Portland 6 9 .400 5.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W L Pct GB Brooklyn 10 4 .714 — New York 10 4 .714 — Philadelphia 9 6 .600 1.5 Boston 8 7 .533 2.5 Toronto 3 13 .188 8 Central W L Pct GB Milwaukee 7 6 .538 — Chicago 7 7 .500 .5 Indiana 7 8 .467 1 Detroit 5 11 .313 3.5 Cleveland 3 12 .200 5 Southeast W L Miami Pct GB 10 3 .769 — Atlanta 9 4 .692 1 Charlotte 7 7 .500 3.5 Orlando 5 9 .357 5.5 Washington 1 12 .077 9 —————————————————— Wednesday's results San Antonio 110, Orlando 89 Washington 84, Portland 82 Brooklyn 95, Boston 83 Atlanta 94, Charlotte 91 Detroit 117, Phoenix 77 Chicago 101, Dallas 78 Memphis 103, Toronto 82 Utah 96, New Orleans 84 Oklahoma City 120, Houston 98 New York 102, Milwaukee 88 Today's games San Antonio at Miami, 5 p.m. Denver at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. West 49ERS Seattle St. Louis Arizona East N.Y. Giants Washington Dallas Philadelphia South W 8 6 4 4 L 2 5 6 7 T 1 0 1 0 Pct .773 .545 .409 .364 PF 276 219 205 180 PA 155 185 254 227 W 7 5 5 3 L 4 6 6 8 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .636 .455 .455 .273 PF 305 295 242 184 PA 226 285 262 282 W L T Pct PF PA Atlanta 10 1 0 .909 294 216 Tampa Bay 6 5 0 .545 310 254 New Orleans5 6 0 .455 308 304 Carolina 3 8 0 .273 214 265 North W L T Pct PF PA Chicago 8 3 0 .727 277 175 Green Bay 7 4 0 .636 273 245 Minnesota 6 5 0 .545 248 249 Detroit 4 7 0 .364 267 280 —————————————————— Week 12 Results Thursday's results Houston 34, Detroit 31, OT Washington 38, Dallas 31 New England 49, N.Y. Jets 19 Sunday's results Denver 17, Kansas City 9 Chicago 28, Minnesota 10 Cincinnati 34, Oakland 10 Cleveland 20, Pittsburgh 14 Indianapolis 20, Buffalo 13 Jacksonville 24, Tennessee 19 Atlanta 24, Tampa Bay 23 Miami 24, Seattle 21 Baltimore 16, San Diego 13, OT St. Louis 31, Arizona 17 San Francisco 31, New Orleans 21 N.Y. Giants 38, Green Bay 10 Monday's result Carolina 30, Philadelphia 22 Week 13 Schedule Today's game New Orleans at Atlanta, 5:20 p.m. Sunday's games Seattle at Chicago, 10 a.m. Minnesota at Green Bay, 10 a.m. San Francisco at St. Louis, 10 a.m. Carolina at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Houston at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Arizona at N.Y. Jets, 10 a.m. Indianapolis at Detroit, 10 a.m. Jacksonville at Buffalo, 10 a.m. New England at Miami, 10 a.m. Tampa Bay at Denver, 1:05 p.m. Cleveland at Oakland, 1:25 p.m. Cincinnati at San Diego, 1:25 p.m. Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1:25 p.m. Philadelphia at Dallas, 5:20 p.m. Monday's games N.Y. Giants at Washington, 5:30 p.m.