The History of Steroids in the NflEssay Preview: The History of Steroids in the NflReport this essayTHE HISTORY OF STEROIDS IN THE NFLPrepared by Matthew RomanoNFL Director of Substance Abuse PoliciesReport Distributed December 3, 2011Prepared forAdrian Wilson of the Arizona CardinalABSTRACTThis report gives a detailed analysis into the history of the correlation between the NFL and the use of steroids. It was prepared by Matthew Romano, NFL Director of Substance Abuse Policies, in order to properly educate the NFL players of the Arizona Cardinals about the impact of steroid use in the sport of football. In depth, this report underlines; (1) the history of steroids in the NFL, giving specific instances in league history that involved the use of steroids, (2) an overview with detailed information on the leagues current policy on the use of steroids, and (3) the health issues that surround the use of steroids and their prolonged affect on users. Also, certain details within the league policy will be accentuated in relation to importance of rules and regulations such as testing policies and disciplinary action. The information gathered for this report has been taken from various official NFL sources, such as espn.go.com, and cbssports.com.
INTRODUCTIONThis report is on the correlation between the NFL and the use of steroids, over the past four decades the use of steroids in the NFL has been a prominent factor in the suspension and occasional termination of athletes in the NFL. Since its introduction into the NFL in 1963, 185 players have either admitted to using or have been accused of using steroids over the course of their careers. I will outline the NFLs current policy on the use of steroids and the repercussions of such actions. The Report will end with a description of the health risks that the combination of steroid use and professional football can have on an athletes body to help depict not only the detriment steroids can do to a career, but also the tremendous affect it can have on an athletes well being.
THE HISTORY OF STEROID USE IN THE NFLSteroid use in the NFL was first recognized in 1963 when the AFL champion San Diego Chargers took Dianabol pills, which were issued to the players by team officials. A common misconception of steroids in the NFL is that the athletes were solely responsible for tainting the NFL with the use of steroids. However, in the 1960s and into the early 1970s steroid use was mainly the result of influence from team doctors and officials, who urged players to partake in the consumption of steroids. Beyond influencing the teams, the doctors and team scouts worked together and provided college prospects with steroids in order to prepare them for the NFL. The NFL was becoming more of a Roman Coliseum gladiatorial display than a professional sport. “Drugs, he observed, were shaping modern footballs mediated illusion that smacked of comic book characters, gargantuan heroes and villains performing superhuman feats in bloody clashes for victory” (Chaney).
In 1962 the San Diego Chargers finished their season with a measly and insignificant record of 4-10, much to the dismay of the head coach at that time Sid Gillman. The following season Gillman decided it was necessary to put his players through a rigorous training camp, featuring two a day workouts which left the players exhausted, and the issuing of a new “miracle pill” of sorts. The teams strength coach Alvin Roy, who had just been hired, brought with him a tiny bottle of pink pills called Dianabol. Roy told his players that the new approach they were taking would increase their intake of protein and would be like going through two-a-days and lifting weight as well. Roy also explained that the players would be taking Dianabol everyday to increase the results of off-season training. Of course the players and the coaches had no objections to the new approach, because at that time there were no bans on steroids in sports, let alone professional football.
“I still remember his speech, almost verbatim,” Mix says. “He said, Because youre going to be lifting weights in addition to working out twice a day, youre going to need more protein. And he said, When I was a trainer for the U.S. team in the Olympics, I learned a secret from those Rookies. And he held up a bottle of pink pills, and he says, This stuff is called Dianabol and its going to help assimilate protein and youll be taking it every day. And, sure enough, it showed up on our training tables in cereal bowls.”(Quinn)
The Chargers subsequently won their championship game that year against the Boston Patriots, known today as the New England Patriots. The Chargers put up absurd statistics and trounced the Patriots in a one-sided game winning 51-10. For decades the 1963 Chargers would be remembered for their sensational performances. However, when it was discovered that the use of steroids was what gave them their edge, their invincible reputation was tarnished, and their amazing feats of athletic ability explained.
Over the decades following more teams would follow suit in their discovery of the “miracle pill”, Dianabol. Throughout the 60s and 70s teams such as the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Raiders all hired Alvin Roy at some point as a weight trainer and team steroid consultant. In 1968, Roy was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs and upon his arrival the teams success in the years to come would lead them to an eventual Super Bowl title in 1970. Following his stint with the Chiefs, Roy was hired by Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys. In 1975, the Cowboys would win their first Super Bowl, thanks to the help of their strength coach. Roy Alvin ended his career and life as the strength coach of the Oakland Raiders; while working with the Raiders in the late 1970s, Alvin suffered a heart attack prior to Oaklands Super Bowl win in the year of 1979. No doubt these teams were given an unfair edge; in a time
t the NFL considered the quality of team football to be in a much better place. That the NFL was so keen to give their players steroids is not surprising; as soon as steroids were in use, they were perceived as a positive for the players before they even hit the field.
4. “The Real Deal” – The Cowboys would go on to win at least three Super Bowls; winning the 1975 Lombardi Trophy as the only team to win three of their four Super Bowls. The following season they would re-establish themselves as one of the most exciting teams in pro sports and then a great challenge again in the Super Bowl, winning the Super Bowl on a high level. After the 1970 season, the Cowboys came back, winning the Super Bowl on a level not seen since the 1970s. Now the only reason that the Cowboys could go on to win a Super Bowl was because of the amazing team in their locker room; the Cowboys’ famous new coach, Mark Dantonio. This is the Cowboys best known coach, Mark Dantonio, who had a deep and proud history of coaching professional and amateur players who won all four Super Bowls in his time with the Dallas Cowboys. He was the one that brought the Cowboys back that we know we will never forgive, the one who pushed teams away from their dreams of becoming one of the best teams in history. Over the years there have also been coaches, coaches and coaches of his caliber such as Jim Harbaugh, Larry Bird, Tony Romo, Doug Marrone and the rest of the greatest coaches ever. These two players were just like every other coach Steve Kerr and Steve Spurrier had.
5. Stolen Player’s Game – The last time the Cowboys ever won a Super Bowl was when Steve Kerr won the 1982 season opener. With the team that won the 1972 game and the team that won the 1984 game, the Cowboys were never supposed to win. The only team known to ever have won a Super Bowl was the Kansas City Chiefs who were coached by Dr. Robert Eaves; the next time Steve Kerr won his first game as a starter, he lost it. Dr. Eaves had a background in sports and he left his way in the 1960s. He was a very successful chiropractor; he performed as a “vacuum cleaner” for years until he decided to leave chiropractic. As a result of his departure from the business, the Cowboys played just two games (along with the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl and on Super Bowl Sunday); only the Dallas Cowboys (who qualified for the league championship) qualified for the playoffs.
6. The Super Bowl – In the 1960s, the Dallas Cowboys would put themselves on the world map, with three world championships and a $5.9 million stadium construction contract (also the first such contract in World War II), but the stadium construction contract was so controversial that the Cowboys were forced to lose to teams from all over the world. The Cowboys won the game on their way to an upset at home (the eventual winner being the Indianapolis Colts) with the assistance of the United States Military. The American Military were one of only 10 teams that the NFL was planning to have before the 1960s. At no point did they have a chance of stopping these teams in its tracks as the Cowboys did. The Cowboys were the only team that were able to win this game with a home team. Over the 1970s, the Cowboys could not win the next two and a half seasons.