Report: Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, James Harrison agree to PED interviews

Three star linebackers – Pittsburgh’s James Harrison and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers – reportedly have agreed to interviews with the NFL regarding their being named in an Al Jazeera America report linking them to PED use.

Earlier this week, the NFL threatened to suspend those three – plus free-agent linebacker Mike Neal, who was also named in the report – if they didn’t agree to be interviewed by Aug. 25.

Harrison had spoken out publicly and repeatedly about not consenting to an interview based on allegations that were mostly recanted after the report ran last winter. The other players had remained silent on the issue, but the NFLPA was advising all of them on whether the NFL had the right to demand interviews.

Still, with suspensions looming, it’s not surprising the three players – who have been selected to a combined 20 Pro Bowls – didn’t want to test the league given that it is coming off a string of court victories in discipline cases.

Retired Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was also named in the report, but has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

According to ESPN, Neal, who had been a teammate of Matthews and Peppers in Green Bay but remains unsigned, has not yet agreed to be interviewed. Harrison reportedly will meet with the league Aug. 29, and the dates for the two Packers haven't yet been set.