NFL Rumors: Unnamed Seahawks Player Says they are Treated ‘Like Criminals’

By Cheri Cheng - 30 Jan '15 15:42PM

The NFL treats its players like criminals, an anonymous Seattle Seahawks player stated according to ESPN.com.

After Seahawks safety Earl Thomas was tested for HGH (human growth hormone), one player stated, "We are being treated like criminals, tested like people on parole."

Thomas, who separated his shoulder during the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers, also expressed his anger with the random drug test via Twitter.

The safety did not elaborate on his drug test when he showed up to Thursday's media access period after he underwent a blood draw.

Thomas is expected to be okay for this Sunday's match up, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Thomas also confirmed that he is better.

"I've come so far," Thomas told reporters on Wednesday. "I feel so much better. Each day, it's surprised me because this is my first time with the injury and you don't know what to expect. It has been just positive results from the trainers. They're doing a great job with me."

The league's HGH testing program picks six players each from eight randomly selected teams per week during the offseason. Drug testing during training camp through to the end of the postseason is not as frequent. Overall, the league conducts 950 tests in the pre-season, season and post-season, and 385 in the offseason, the Huffington Post reported.

This is the first year that the NFL has enforced random HGH testing. Some critics believe that the test should be more selective and focus on certain players.