He Said/She Said
Posted August 28, 2005, 7:47 PM ET

As we count down the days of the laborious NFL preseason games and schedule, we can finally see the beginning of the regular season in sight.

For the Carolina Panthers, that is good news and bad news.

The 2005 edition of John Fox' squad looks to be the best one yet and there is optimism from the players, coaches and even the fans. While the sun looks to be shining down on the team in the stadium, there is one ugly, ubiquitous, black cloud on the horizon. And it involves the never-ending steroid issue surrounding the franchise.

Last week, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stopped by Charlotte for a photo-op with the timorous Jerry Richardson and spoke briefly about the ongoing steroid investigation which happens to star the Carolina Panthers.

Tagliabue said, "I think one thing is clear already; based on what I have been presented with, no one within the Panthers organization was in any way, shape or form involved with any of these players who were playing outside of the lines".

That was a direct counter to the statement issued by Doug Ames on our radio show on August 12th. Ames, the literary agent for Dr. James Shortt (the target of the investigation), said point-blank that John Fox absolutely "knew 100% that his players were visiting Dr. Shortt".

I asked Ames - who ironically called our show the day Tagliabue visited Charlotte - how he knew that Coach Fox was aware of the players' visits to Columbia and Ames shot back by saying, "that's easy...the players told me that they told Fox". Ames later admitted that a current NFL coach called him recently and asked if there was another doctor that could perform the services that Dr. Shortt had provided the numerous Panther players. He even hinted that there is one more player that was a former Panther that would blow the lid off of this story, but he didn't elaborate.

I have no idea which party is telling the truth. It is obvious that Ames and Tagliabue are coming from both ends of the spectrum in this debate. And, as a fan, it is your call on which party you believe...or you might even fall into the camp that is so turned off by all this garabge that you just want the games to start.

But, getting back to Commissioner Tagliabue, I thought he made some statements during his visit which raised some serious questions. The slick attorney and NFL commissioner stated that the league investigation would provide very valuable information.

Tagliabue said, "Hopefully, I'll have the report certainly by the beginning of the regular season..."

If the report is still three or four weeks away, how can Tagliabue clear any coach, player or administrator from this issue? Unfortunately, no Panther beat writer took the time to think about what the commish was spinning.

Tagliabue also said that, despite some Oakland Raider players being involved with the BALCO investigation on the West Coast and claims by Dr. Shortt that he has treated dozens of NFL players, the NFL honcho doesn't foresee that his league has a widespread problem.

Tagliabue said, "I don't see anything at this point to suggest that...it looks like it was an isolated endeavor by a physician. But I'd rather answer that in a definitive way after I see the report."

But, Mr. Tagliabue, you've already cleared the Panthers organization without the final report...why do you need to wait to answer this question about the potential steroid use in your league?

The answer is...Paul Tagliabue spun Charlotte and the media on his finger. Just like Doug Ames and Dr. Shortt are spinning their side of the fight, too.

As I said on the radio show: I have a feeling that the truth of this story is somewhere in between.

The only element that remains consistent during the entire investigation is that the Richardson family was not available for comment.