The NFL's drug policy has kept them out of the public eye and the crosshairs of Congress. What it didn't do was address things like this case, a well documented violation of every possible anti-doping rule that somehow didn't result in any positive tests. Stunning.

When the good doctor pleaded guilty, in large part because of an HBO interview that could and would use his own words against him in a court of law, he got a nice deal on par with Victor Conte's plea and also kept the NFL out of the headlines and a potentially perilous trial.

The NFL can slink back, knowing it really dodged a bullet that might have forced it to create a real drug policy rather than a PR facade and the resultant parade of positives most expect would occur. It will be a while before we see how the legal case against Patrick Arnold plays out, one that will be far more interesting.