I think widespread use is very common among pro and college football players. I think the NFL and NCAA are turning their heads though because people enjoy seeing bigger and faster athletes on the field. One of my best friends from HS played baseball at LSU. I asked him once if anyone on the baseball team took steroids. He said "I don't know anyone on the baseball team that does, but other sports...*makes face* It is very common..."
They do random drug tests for college athletes. Unless someone is using a type of steroid that is not testable or using a masking agent that the drug test cannot interpret, they are going to be caught. I remember getting tested three times in about 18 months at one point. On another note, I got caught up behind a player in college that went on to play in the pros for a couple of years. That player mysteriously got seriously strong and fast his last year in college and into the pro scout days.....his second year in the NFL he tested positive for PED's and never played another down in the NFL.
When players are at their peak physical fitness level, and than add an additonal 20-30lbs between their senior year of college and rookie season in the NFL, something is up.
They don't test NFL players very often, if at all, kind of a joke if you ask me. I'm willing to bet there would be a lot of disappointed NFL fans if it were mandatory!
Im not sure about it's prevalence....it seems to be the sport we hear the least about it, yet the sport the athletes would gain the most from using it... The way baseball has made a witch hunt out of past PED use is sickening, hope the NFL doesn't take a similar track.
I have seen a lot of athletically genetic freaks in my life and I did not even play at real high level of college football (I-AA). Heck, I had a guy in my high school that was 6'4" 250 lbs as a sophomore and ran a sub 5.0 40 yard dash in Timberland boots. He went on to a 6-7 year NFL career as an offensive lineman. I could name many more that were freaks even before the NFL or college came knocking.
It just seems odd with all the steroid "scandals" in baseball, track & field, and cycling, that we have none in football.
I think if you looked back 20-30 years ago, they probably said the same thing about their generations of athletes. I don't doubt that there might be a case or two in the NFL, but i do think that the majority is all of the achievements and strides they've made in the training aspect. Athletes are starting earlier and learning all about training techniques, diet and stuff that was just being discovered when people our age were competing. I was watching the HS all-american game last week and realized that those kids are huge. I'm 6'5" and 230, by no means small, but these guys are much more advanced and bigger than I was coming out of HS. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I agree, time to test them. Fact of the matter is Steroids lead to depression and health issues. I still don't understand how every year the Mr. Olympia and other bodybuilding shows go on with people filled to the hilt with juice. I see kids all over the gym that are getting jacked in no time, then deflating after their cycles and throwing temper tantrums. Sadly I have lost a few friends over the years due to Steroids or Depression related illness from Steroids.
There were over 14000 test in 2010 for steroid use in the nfl. They are testing . http://nflcommunications.com/2010/08/23/the-facts-on-nfl-steroid-testing/ Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Anybody who believes NFL players don't take "enhancements" is extremely naive. Many if not most certainly do.. and for many it begins at the high school level.
According to TFOX there were 14000 tests done in 2010....given that statistic related to your above comment, you must believe the nfl players are using masking agents then to go undetected....?
Im not going to pretend like I know what nfl players are doing. However, the nfl already had a HUGE problem with steroid use in the 80's and addressed it years ago. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
They have testing... but then... so did Lance Armstrong have testing and never failed. I don't use steroids. Every tiny inch of what I got is mine. LOL I also own a tiny little ruler.LOL
Absolutely. Also, you would be surprised at how heavy some of the nfl players are playing at near the end of the year. Many of the 240lb linebackers are actually playing around 225 by the end of the season. One could go down to their local gym and find a dozen guys walking around at 225 lbs of muscle. I am NOT and never was an elite football player. I had above average genetics, average height and I still put out a 300lb+ power clean, 400lb+ bench press, 500lb+ squat, and a legit 4.5 40y dash while in college and I never touched steroids in my life. I walked around at about 230lbs at 6 feet tall prior to the season and I do not have a large frame. Can you imagine what an elite natural athlete could do in comparison to me? MUCH MUCH stronger, bigger, and faster without any PED's. Easily.
m Not really naive Hooker, just being honest. If I would have been 6'3" I would have been 250lbs of muscle without PED's and with the speed to play at the next level. And once again, I was NOT even close to an elite athlete. Look at how many stud natural athletes there are in the SEC alone. They don't need the roids to compete man, they already have "it".
