The NFL claims their drug tests are random, with policies that frequently change.
Currently, players can be tested up to six times in the offseason, with every NFL player receiving one annual test under the Performance-Enhancing Substances (PES) Policy.
Additionally, 20% of a team’s players are randomly tested during training camp, and 10% during the offseason. Some players might face up to a total of 24 tests per year due to additional random testing.
However, the so-called randomness of these tests appears questionable, at least according to Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. During an interview with the PMT hosts at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Tahoe, Mayfield shared his skepticism.
Mayfield recounted his experience from the 2020 season when he was with the Cleveland Browns. He revealed that he was tested “probably 11 times that year” when things were going well for him and the team. He also detailed the uncomfortable nature of the testing process, describing how some testers would stare at him during the procedure, making him want to leave as quickly as possible.
While it may seem like an odd topic, asking another player how many times they’ve been tested can provide amusing and insightful interview content. It was particularly entertaining to hear Mayfield, who admitted he’s not exactly the stereotypical “physical specimen” of the NFL, discuss his experiences.
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In the 2020 season, Mayfield and the Browns had an impressive run, finishing with an 11-5 record. Mayfield threw for 3,563 yards, a milestone he has reached in four of his six full NFL seasons.
That year, he also recorded 26 touchdown passes—his third-best season tally—and only eight interceptions, marking his career low. Despite his performance, one wonders what the NFL expected to find in those frequent tests. Perhaps they were looking for something that might help with focus or performance.
The repeated testing raises questions about the true randomness and intent behind the NFL’s drug testing procedures. It also underscores the pressures and invasions of privacy players endure under the league’s stringent policies.
As Mayfield’s story illustrates, the line between maintaining fair play and over-scrutinizing athletes can sometimes blur, leading to questionable practices and significant discomfort for the players involved.
