Screen Shot 2012-10-19 at 10.23.12 AMPhoto: AP

This could be bad. Or, an opinion put forth by a “law-enforcement source” may lead to a most unfortunate insinuation.

At a press conference yesterday, Northampton County officials continually referred to 19 vials of an unknown liquid that were found in a gym bag in Garrett Reid’s dorm room at Lehigh. The bag also contained over 100 needles and syringes. The common assumption was that those things were for Reid’s personal drug use. But, in a Daily News article today, Jason Nark cites a “law enforcement source familiar with drug investigations” (read: not connected to this one), whose guesswork opens up other possible conclusions: [Philly.com]

A law-enforcement source familiar with drug investigations said that the 19 vials of liquid could be an anabolic steroid, which would require multiple needles and syringes as well. Neither Morganelli or Lysek could be reached for further comment on the vials on Thursday afternoon, and no mention of steroids was made at the news conference.

In 2007, when Garrett Reid crashed his car in Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, police found heroin, steroids and more than 200 pills in his car. His brother, Britt, pointed a handgun at a driver during a road-rage incident the same day. Garrett was charged with 14 misdemeanor crimes, including assault and driving under the influence. He admitted at the time that he enjoyed being "a drug dealer."

 

Why could that be a problem? 

Reid was assisting the Eagles’ strength and conditioning coach.

Now, the mention of steroids could turn out to be a glaring example why interviewing a professional expert not connected to a case is a horrible idea. No indication was given at yesterday’s press conference that steroids were found in Reid’s room. However, the fact that officials continually referred to an unknown liquid was a bit odd. 

The shoe would fit, too. Not only had Reid been found with steroids before, but he had also taken an interest in physical fitness, something that was noted by his family in his obituary:

Garrett was working as a strength & conditioning coach. He found his passion in helping others develop their physique. To further his career, Garrett had planned to begin studies in sports management in the fall.

 

Of course, if those 19 vials turn out to be steroids – a big if at this point – the story will be written this way, whether fair or not: Eagles assistant strength coach had a gym bag full of steroids at training camp. 

That’s a bad headline.

I don’t need to explain the implication to you. And you shouldn’t infer anything at this point. But, if Nark’s law-enforcement source turns out to be right, then you can expect a few questions to pop up.