Federal authorities have issued a subpoena to an unnamed player on the Atlanta Falcons to testify before a federal grand jury in Texas investigating steroids, Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times is reporting. Although the identity of that player has not been revealed, one of the subjects of the grand jury's investigation has been: Matt Lehr, an offensive lineman who signed this off-season with the Saints has previously played for the Buccaneers, Falcons, Rams and Cowboys. Lehr, whose name surfaced in connection to this case during the 2007 season, served a four-game suspension in 2006 after failing a drug test.
Lehr's lawyer said Lehr is under investigation because David Jacobs, a Texas personal trainer who pleaded guilty to steroid-distribution charges in November, is trying to get back at Lehr for refusing to pay his legal fees. "He threatened Matt and said you have to pay my attorney's fees or I am going to end your career," Lehr's lawyer told the Times.
The Saints signed Lehr as a free agent last month; it is unclear whether they knew at the time that Lehr was a target of this grand jury investigation.
