Brandon Marshall: I’ve heard of players using Viagra ‘to get an edge’

[madinmaryland]

The NFL’s fight against performance-enhancing drug (PED) use amongst its players has focused recently on Adderall — Tampa Bay’s Eric Wright just landed a four-game suspension for taking that drug, while Seattle cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman face similar punishments.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall told reporters Wednesday, though, that Adderall is not the only unusual source of help turned to by some NFL players. From Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times:

“I don’t know too much about Adderall,” Marshall said. “I know guys, it is such a competitive league, guys try anything just to get that edge. I’m fortunate enough to be blessed with size and some smarts to give me my edge. But some guys, they’ll do whatever they can to get an edge. I’ve heard of some crazy stories. I’ve heard (of) guys using like Viagra, seriously. Because the blood is supposedly thin, some crazy stuff. So, you know, it’s kind of scary with some of these chemicals that are in some of these things so you have to be careful.”

Naturally, Twitter erupted with a plethora of quippy responses to Marshall’s revelation. But the notion of NFL players taking Viagra may not be as far-fetched or ridiculous as you might think.

The use of Viagra by athletes is a phenomenon that’s been tackled by many news outlets in the past, including online news magazine Slate and the New York Times. In a 2008 piece entitled “Does Viagra gives athletes an advantage?”, the Times examined why the little blue pill might be the next wave of PEDs.

Read more: http://nfl.si.com/2012/11/28/brandon-marshall-ive-heard-of-players-using-viagra-to-get-an-edge/?sct=hp_t2_a7&eref=sihp

This just keeps getting better!!

[bluedigger]

1. I would think that would be counterproductive.

You need your blood in your muscles, not your dick.

[hrmjustin]

2. Yes I would think it would be difficult to play being aroused.

[Liberal_Dog]

3. I Guess This Explains Why Games Are Lasting Four Hours Now. nt

[GaYellowDawg]

5. It's a vasodilator

Viagra isn't going to cause erections in someone healthy - it can offset erectile dysfunction, but won't increase function of someone normal.

It causes release of nitric oxide, which causes smooth muscles in vessel walls to relax. The idea behind using it is that it counteracts the temporary rise in blood pressure caused by activity, allowing the heart to do its work without working as hard. The problem I see with it is that the increased blood flow rate caused by the higher blood pressure is canceled out - which means that tissues wouldn't get perfused with oxygenated blood as fast.

[joeybee12]

6. Dpeending on the player, this could have him make contact with an opposing player

6, maybe 10 inches earlier!