HGH testing in NFL probably not close

The NFL’s goal to be the first major professional sports league to implement testing for human growth hormone appears a long way from coming to fruition.

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said Thursday that players have serious questions about the safety and reliability of the test. He said the World Anti-Doping Agency has not turned over the information the players’ association has requested and will not agree to the test until that time.

Ryan explains

New York Jets Coach Rex Ryan says he was not advocating fan violence when he suggested that “it’s probably not recommended” that Dallas Cowboys fans wear team gear to the Jets’ stadium on Sunday night for the regular-season opener.

Ryan’s comments from a day earlier were criticized by some fans and sports radio hosts Thursday, particularly in light of recent fan violence at Candlestick Park and Dodger Stadium. The brash coach says “it certainly wasn’t my intention to be taken that way. I certainly didn’t mean it to come out like that if that’s the way it was taken.”

Ryan says he doesn’t want to see any opponents’ jerseys in the crowd simply because “I would like to see our stadium just in our colors.”

Etc.

Two-time Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson has re-signed with the Miami Dolphins five days after they cut him. The move may have been prompted by an injury to rookie running back Daniel Thomas, who sat out practice Thursday. … The banged up New York Giants’ defense has another injury to worry about, and this involves two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck. The Giants defensive captain didn’t practice Thursday because of a sore neck, and he indicated he would not play in the season opener against the Redskins in Washington unless it improved. Tuck suffered a stinger in a preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 29. The Giants have already lost cornerback Terrell Thomas and middle linebacker Jonathan Goff to season-ending knee injuries, and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora is rehabilitating his knee after arthroscopic surgery and will not play in the opener. … The San Diego Chargers say enough tickets have been sold to lift the local TV blackout for their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Last year, three of the Chargers’ first four home games were blacked out, including their first two.