Unwanted Attention For Izzo

During Friday's press conference, Coach Belichick anointed former LB Larry Izzo as the best special teams player he ever coached.

Izzo went undrafted in 1996, but carved out a 14 year NFL career excelling on special teams. He holds the league record with 298 special teams tackles. He made the 2002 and 2004 Pro Bowl as a specialist. His career ended after the Jets cut him last year because of a spinal injury.

I'm sure Izzo would be very flattered to hear such comments. Special teams players don't always make it into the news.

However, Izzo has been making the news for the last few years for all of the wrong reasons. He has testified before a federal grand jury regarding his connection to the BALCO steroid scandal.

The U.S. Attorney's office announced that Izzo will be a prosecution witness when former baseball player Barry Bonds goes on trial for committing perjury before the grand jury investigating steroid use. Izzo will be forced to answer questions about his own use and connection to Greg Anderson, the former trainer of Bonds and the alleged supplier to a host of professional athletes.

The trial is set for next March. I bet he wishes that Bonds would work out a plea agreement prior to going that date.