Steroids dealer names players to NFL security officials

5/22/2008 12:01 AM

DALLAS (AP) -A convicted steroids dealer met with NFL security officials in the Dallas area Wednesday and gave them names of players he said bought steroids from him, his lawyer said.

Hank Hockeimer, the lawyer for convicted steroids dealer David Jacobs, declined to reveal which players bought steroids from Jacobs.

``The general topic was his knowledge of steroid and human growth hormone use by current and former players,'' Hockeimer said in a story on The Dallas Morning News Web site Wednesday night. ``They were thorough in their questioning. David provided them with documents corroborating what he was telling them.''

Jacobs, who lives in Plano, declined to discuss the meeting, referring questions to his lawyer.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello also declined to comment on the meeting, but told the newspaper the league was not paying Jacobs for any information.

Jacobs was sentenced to three years probation and fined $25,000 earlier this month after pleading guilty last year in federal court to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.

Jacobs told the newspaper that the day after his sentencing, NFL security officials came to his home in Plano home asking for the names of players who bought steroids. Jacobs said he turned them away because he did not want to speak without his lawyer present.

Jacobs has publicly said he sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of performance-enhancing drugs to former Dallas Cowboys lineman Matt Lehr in 2006 and 2007. Lehr has also played for Tampa Bay and Atlanta.

Lehr's attorney, Paul Coggins, has said the player hasn't used banned substances since he was suspended for four games during the 2006 season while playing for Atlanta, and has since passed NFL drug tests. The attorney has also said Jacobs' allegations are retaliation because Lehr wouldn't pay Jacobs' legal fees.

Prosecutors have told Coggins that Lehr will not be indicted in the Jacobs case, Coggins said.

Coggins told the newspaper he was unaware of the Wednesday meeting that Jacobs had with NFL security.

``Matt's playing in the NFL next year, and for many years to come,'' Coggins said.