Juicing in Football

[Apollo Creed]

I don't know if its taboo to discuss roids on here, but with the spectacle that it has become in baseball - I would imagine it has got to be prevalent in a testosterone contact driven sport like football. I know about morons like Tony Mandarich, but were there any really productive players that have a tattered history of track marks?

I've heard rumors of the 70s Steelers being infamous for juicing.

And I'm almost absolutely certain that James Harrison followed the Merriman workout last year.

Feel free to speculate. Have any former Cowboys players confessed or been rumored?

 

[adamknite]

I don't believe he's ever failed a drug test, but I really thought Haynesworth was on roids or something after I saw the incident with Gurode. That was my first thought after the initial shock anyways.

Matt Lehr was busted for steroids, but not while he was a Cowboy, and I don't think he'll ever be called a "productive" player, but he was on the team, so you'd have to naturally think he had friends on the team, and you'd have to think he may of tried or succeeded in influencing somebody?

Edit: And our QB Coach Wade Wilson got suspended for HGH.

 

[Chief]

I thought it was pretty common knowledge that Randy White did. Maybe it was just rumors.

Danny Noonan, too.

I'm surprised there's not more coming out about performance-enhancing drugs in the NFL. It has to be there ... or am I being too cynical?

 

[Cajuncowboy]

John Matuzek died from brain cancer that some said were linked to his use of roids.

 

[superpunk]

Right after that play Harrison ran outside and started putting his head through car windows.

SEAT AT THE TABLE, BABY!

 

[Big Country]

John Matuzek died from brain cancer that some said were linked to his use of roids.

Didn't Lyle Alzado die from complications of the same thing??

 

[Seven]

John Matuzek died from brain cancer that some said were linked to his use of roids.

Lyle Alzado..............

 

[LeonDixson]

I thought it was pretty common knowledge that Randy White did. Maybe it was just rumors.

Danny Noonan, too.

I'm surprised there's not more coming out about performance-enhancing drugs in the NFL. It has to be there ... or am I being too cynical?

Given the way Randy looks today, I'd have to say it was just rumors. He's still formidable and I doubt he'd be taking roids after retirement. I could be wrong, but that's how I see it.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

Didn't Lyle Alzado die from complications of the same thing??

Yep, I got the two mixed up. Tooz died from a drug overdose.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I've wondered the same thing.

I am completely on board with believing Harrison took the juice

 

[THUMPER]

I don't know if its taboo to discuss roids on here, but with the spectacle that it has become in baseball - I would imagine it has got to be prevalent in a testosterone contact driven sport like football. I know about morons like Tony Mandarich, but were there any really productive players that have a tattered history of track marks?

I've heard rumors of the 70s Steelers being infamous for juicing.

And I'm almost absolutely certain that James Harrison followed the Merriman workout last year.

Feel free to speculate. Have any former Cowboys players confessed or been rumored?

What's really sad about that play is that none of the other Cardinal players came over to put something on Harrison.

Steve Courson of the late70s-mid80s Stealers was the first NFL player to come out about steroids use. According to him it was rampant throughout the NFL but when he was questioned on it further he said that he really didn't know about players from other teams but that most of the Stealers linemen and LBs used them and had for years. If I recall, he would not reveal who it was on the team that first introduced them to him but I got the impression it was Joe Greene.

Greene went from 245 in his first couple of seasons to 275 in two years and went from being very good to great. Now most players, particularly linemen, add weight as they mature but 30 lbs in 2 years is a lot! Bob Lilly went from 245 to 260 but that took several years and is only half of what Greene added.

There were rumors about Randy White, he even hinted at it after he retired, and I have no doubt that he did some but he still looks like he could play although he has dropped some weight from his playing days, so I think he used them in moderation. He made the switch from LB to DT and added about 20 lbs over a couple of seasons. Some other Cowboys players were suspected as well but nothing ever came out on it that I know of.

I have no doubt that the Stealers were using steroids in the 70s and 80s and that Chuck Noll not only knew about it but approved of it. Harrison is on something, that's for sure.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

What's really sad about that play is that none of the other Cardinal players came over to put something on Harrison.

Steve Courson of the late70s-mid80s Stealers was the first NFL player to come out about steroids use. According to him it was rampant throughout the NFL but when he was questioned on it further he said that he really didn't know about players from other teams but that most of the Stealers linemen and LBs used them and had for years. If I recall, he would not reveal who it was on the team that first introduced them to him but I got the impression it was Joe Greene.

Greene went from 245 in his first couple of seasons to 275 in two years and went from being very good to great. Now most players, particularly linemen, add weight as they mature but 30 lbs in 2 years is a lot! Bob Lilly went from 245 to 260 but that took several years and is only half of what Greene added.

There were rumors about Randy White, he even hinted at it after he retired, and I have no doubt that he did some but he still looks like he could play although he has dropped some weight from his playing days, so I think he used them in moderation. He made the switch from LB to DT and added about 20 lbs over a couple of seasons. Some other Cowboys players were suspected as well but nothing ever came out on it that I know of.

I have no doubt that the Stealers were using steroids in the 70s and 80s and that Chuck Noll not only knew about it but approved of it. Harrison is on something, that's for sure.

Merriman gained that much in 2 weeks before the Combine
I think it was actually 20lbs.

 

[THUMPER]

Didn't Lyle Alzado die from complications of the same thing??

Alzado was definitely a steroids user. He's another guy who went from like 238 to nearly 285 at one point in his career. I ran into him once at a theater in SoCal and the guy was just massive! He was playing for the Raiders then and was easily 285 lbs, maybe more. I am a slightly taller than he was and was around 240 at the time and he made me look small. The guy's chest, shoulders, and arms were gigantic! I was checking out the hot blond he was with and he didn't like it and got in my face, that's when I recognized who he was and immediately backed off.

It wasn't like I was cat-calling or putting my face in her chest or anything, I just checked her out (she was amazingly hot!) and he was all amped up and ready to kill me for looking at his woman. I'd say that was a sure sign of roid-rage.

 

[THUMPER]

Merriman gained that much in 2 weeks before the Combine
I think it was actually 20lbs.

It's not that difficult to put on weight (just ask me, DOH!) but to put on that much muscle is more difficult and Greene was pretty cut even at 275. Plus, Merriman was probably using then as well.

In a way you can't blame the players because we are talking about millions of dollars difference in where you are drafted and for an OLB getting double-digit sacks pretty much ensures a major payday come contract time. Any edge is worth the risk to some.

 

[Texan_Eph89]

http://i15.***BLOCKED***/albums/a365/Abumi/MerrimanJuicer.jpg

 

[QT]

Danny Noonan was suspended in college for steriod use. I remember when the Cowboys drafted him, there were clips of him throwing OL's around like rag dolls.

Don't forget about the Boz...

 

[Jimz31]

Count me as one that believes that Walter Payton died as a result of steroids. He needed a transplant and I believe that was a result of using.

 

[QT]

Also, I listen to the Michael Irvin show daily and he said that throughout his years playing, he has seen it in locker rooms but never says anything about it. So i'm pretty sure he has seen it in the Cowboys' locker room...

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't know if its taboo to discuss roids on here, but with the spectacle that it has become in baseball - I would imagine it has got to be prevalent in a testosterone contact driven sport like football. I know about morons like Tony Mandarich, but were there any really productive players that have a tattered history of track marks?

I've heard rumors of the 70s Steelers being infamous for juicing.

And I'm almost absolutely certain that James Harrison followed the Merriman workout last year.

Feel free to speculate. Have any former Cowboys players confessed or been rumored?

There is zero doubt in my mind that more than a few Steelers were using steroids last season. Without question Troy Polamalu was one of them. The man puts extreme punishment on his own body. More than any man could and still return to play the next week for 16+ straight games.

 

[Longboysfan]

http://i15.***BLOCKED***/albums/a365/Abumi/MerrimanJuicer.jpg

Product of Mexico......