NEW YORK -- Hall of Famer Rich "Goose" Gossage says Roger Clemens should never make it to Cooperstown.

Gossage said Thursday during a radio interview that he believes Clemens has lied about his steroid use, labeling the seven-time Cy Young Award winner as a cheater unworthy of the Hall of Fame.

"Are we going to reward these guys for cheating?" Gossage asked Michael Kay and Don La Greca on ESPN New York 98.7. "Even though he was found innocent, it was because of the bad testimony. No one believed (Brian) McNamee and (Andy) Pettitte kind of changed his thing, 'Did I really hear what he told me.' "

Clemens has yet to respond to Gossage's comments.

Clemens was acquitted Monday on all charges that he obstructed and lied to Congress in denying he used performance-enhancing drugs. However, the verdict has not settled the matter in sports circles as to whether Clemens cheated in the latter stages of his career.

A crucial barometer comes this fall, when Clemens' name appears on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. Gossage clearly is not convinced of Clemens' innocence, comparing the trial's outcome to the controversial 1995 verdict in the O.J. Simpson murder trial.