Saints4Life

Saw this article on the redzone.org and figured since its saints related I might as well just post it.....

Haslett admits to using steroids
Says Steelers of 1970s triggered outbreak
Thursday, March 24, 2005

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Jim Haslett went from a 160-pound quarterback at Avalon High School to a 230-pound defensive end at IUP, but he said it wasn't until he reached the NFL that he took steroids.
Haslett, the New Orleans Saints' coach, discussed the rampant steroids use in the NFL 25 years ago at a time when Major League Baseball is attempting to rid that sport of the illegal drugs. He detailed his use of steroids yesterday over breakfast at the NFL meetings in Maui.

Haslett estimated that half the NFL players, including all the linemen, used steroids in the 1980s when they were not banned by the league and legal if prescribed medically. He claimed steroids began in the NFL with the Steelers' players in the 1970s and mentioned Barry Bonds as having tell-tale signs of use.

Haslett said it wasn't long after he was drafted by Buffalo in the second round in 1979 that he felt he needed to take steroids to stay competitive in the league.

"They tossed you around, they were strong. So everybody wanted an advantage, so you tried it; I tried it. I mean I tried it, everybody tried it."

The league did not begin steroids testing until 1987; suspensions were issued for the first time in '89 and random year-round testing began in '90. The current steroids policy was negotiated with the players as part of the collective bargaining agreement of 1992 and remains in effect today.

A first positive test draws a four-game suspension. A second brings a six-game suspension and a third a one-year ban. No one, however, has tested positive more than once under the program, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Haslett said he believes the league long ago gained control of the steroids problem that was rampant when he played.

"If you didn't [take steroids], you weren't as strong as everybody else, you weren't as fast as everybody else," Haslett said. "That's the only reason to do it. Everybody's looking for a competitive edge."

Haslett said the Steelers of the 1970s were big steroids users.

"It started, really, in Pittsburgh. They got an advantage on a lot of football teams. They were so much stronger [in the] '70s, late '70s, early '80s ... Steve [Courson], Jon [Kolb] and all those guys. They're the ones who kind of started it."

Dan Rooney quickly and strongly refuted that accusation.

"This is totally, totally false when he says it started with the Steelers in the '70s," Rooney said between meetings yesterday. "Chuck Noll was totally against it. He looked into it, examined it, talked to people. Haslett, maybe it affected his mind."

Rooney pointed out that Noll's offensive lines were noted for their speed and trapping ability and not their size -- they were among the smallest lines in the league in the 1970s.

"Chuck Noll told the players, hey, this stuff doesn't do you any good," Rooney said. "If you just do the work, lift, things like that, you'll be all right."

Haslett, a Pro Bowl linebacker in the NFL, said he took steroids for only one offseason around 1979 or '80, then got off them. He estimated his playing weight at 252.

"I didn't think it was very good for you. I was hyper all the time. Got bloated, a fat face. I'll tell you one thing about steroids, if you take them you still have to eat right and you have to work your ass off. If you take them and you don't do anything, that doesn't do anything for you."

Haslett said he was a college coach when he first met Barry Bonds and saw a different player when Bonds returned to Pittsburgh with the San Francisco Giants when Haslett was the Steelers' defensive coordinator from 1997-99.

"I met Barry Bonds, he was about 185," Haslett said. "Next time I saw him, I was a coach at the Steelers and he was about 210. A big 210. You get so much stronger. Your bat speed [increases], everything."

Asked if he thought Bonds took steroids, Haslett did not answer.

"I promise you, if those guys did take them, they're working their ass off anyway," Haslett said. "So they were going to get gains anyway, but probably not to the magnitude they did when they take the stuff."

The main advantage to taking steroids, Haslett said, is they help players lift more often and thus get stronger and possibly bigger.

"I didn't put weight on, I just got strong. If you lift on Monday, usually you lift Wednesday, Friday. [On steroids], you can lift like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. You never got tired.

"Your muscles recovered from it. When you lift, your muscle tears down and the blood comes in and repairs it. It takes bout 28 to 40 hours for the blood to repair the muscle. When you take steroids and it rips the muscle, the blood immediately flows in there, and it repairs itself right away. That's why you never feel tired, you never feel sore.

"You can lift every day, you can recover right away. My bench went from 440 to 480 in about 6 weeks."

Haslett acknowledged he was more volatile than usual when he took steroids and that "I've seen guys snap. Somebody says something, they'd snap. You get hyper all the time, sweating."

He described the introduction of steroids by the Bills to one of their new teammates in the 1980s.

"I played with a guy who came into the league, he came out of the USFL," Haslett said. "He was 270, and he would never have made our team if he didn't get up to 300. The linemen got him together, got him a little supplemental pill for the week and he got up to about 305 and made our team. And he's probably one of the all-time great players in Bills history. He was a great player."

While his description fits former Bills center Kent Hull, Haslett would not name him. Hull joined the Bills from the USFL New Jersey Generals in 1986 and played 11 seasons in Buffalo.

Haslett has been New Orleans' head coach since 2000

bignic26

Why would Haz come out with this right now?

saintswhodi

It\'s on ESPN too.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2020408

The first thing I thought when I read this was, why in the hell can\'t this team SHUT THE FRICK UP!!!!!!!!!!! Why does some idiot always have to be saying something to embarrass the team? SHUT UP!!!!!

BreesFN9

That just baffles me? Some things you should just keep to yourself. I like that the guy speaks his mind but c\'mon! Know when to draw the line. Is\'nt he working on a long term contract right now? Bad timing.

bignic26

This is pretty bad man. Haz just cast a shadow of doubt over one of the greatest dynasties ever. He also opened the closet door on some of his teammates. I\'m sure they would\'ve liked to leave this info in the closet where it belongs. Why bring this up out of nowhere? It\'s no shocking revalation that steroids were rampant in the late 70s and 80s, but Haz is naming names! That\'s hard core.

Maybe he feels like the end is near in NO, so he\'s setting up a huge tell all book that he\'ll write when he\'s gone.

We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams

papz

Gives us good publicity duh!

I can\'t say I\'m not surprised about Haslett using it though. He was built like a rock in his playing days.

Halo

Here is the apology....

Haslett issues statement on steroid comments

Saints head coach Jim Haslett issued a statement regarding his comments Wednesday about his past use of steroids. His entire statement is below.


\"My comments yesterday were intended to express my understanding of the NFL\'s Drug Testing Policy, which is the best in all professional sports. I was asked about the league\'s drug testing policy and the relationship to baseball. As a former player and now a coach in this league, I have a tremendous amount of respect for our game both now and in the past. We would be naïve to think that enhancing drugs were never used in our league, but the difference here is that the NFL recognized that steroid use was detrimental to our league and has implemented policies to ensure that it never would be an issue. I am a proponent of the NFL policies and was trying to explain the differences.


I was not intending to do any harm to anyone or any organization or the NFL with these statements and if I did I offer my sincerest apology. I have the utmost respect for Mr. (Dan) Rooney and what he has meant to the NFL and offer my apologizes to him and the Steelers.


My intent yesterday, as it is today, is to highlight how far our drug testing policy has come, how stringent it is and how effective it is. \"

http://www.wwltv.com/sports/saints/s...16d632fb5.html

GumboBC

Man, I\'ve been reading some stuff Haslett has been saying over in Hawaii. Haslett blasted Rickey Williams. Said that he\'s not responsible for some of the players who have been brought to New Orleans. And then called the Steelers to the floor for using \"roids\".

Now, I agree with Haslett but he sure is speaking his mind. I think I\'ve gotten more info from Haslett in the last 2 days than the entire time he\'s been here.



[Edited on 24/3/2005 by GumboBC]

shadowdrinker

He is Human, and therefore, prone to error...

With any luck..this will instill some hatred between the Saints and the rest of the League...maybe light a fire under the teams behinds ..

Saint_LB

Yeah, c\'mon, just shut up!! We don\'t want to hear about anyone else using steroids...just Barry. He\'s the one we hate. Let\'s take out all of our anger on him, and let everyone else slide.