LITTLE ROCK — Make your own jokes about this
The idea that NFL players might use Viagra to gain an edge on the field left Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs practically in tears - from laughing.
He wasn’t the only one.
Players cracked jokes about it Thursday, a day after Bears star receiver Brandon Marshall said he had heard that some players were using Viagra and hoping it would give them an advantage during games.
“What would that do? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” Minnesota Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler said.
Bears defensive back D.J. Moore wondered if Marshall was kidding and said: “I’ve never heard of that.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Viagra is not a banned substance and declined further comment.
Marshall started it all Wednesday when asked about a growing number of suspensions tied to amphetamines, including the ADHD drug Adderall. He said he didn’t know much about Adderall, but suggested Viagra could be viewed by players as a way to boost their energy.
“I know guys, it’s such a competitive league, and guys try anything just to get that edge,” he said. “I’ve heard of guys using Viagra, seriously, because the blood, it’s supposed to thin. I don’t know. Some crazy stuff.
It’s kind of scary with some of these chemicals that are in some of these things, so you have to be careful.”
But using Viagra for more touchdowns and tackles?
“I didn’t even know people could do that,” New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett said.
And his teammate Justin Tuck added: “I can’t imagine why people would take steroids, so I have no comment on Viagra. Besides, my wife would be very upset with me.”
Steelers the jackpot
They make millions each year, but were hoping for a little more.
Instead, four Pittsburgh Steelers won just $100 when a Powerball ticket they won matched four of five numbers drawn, and failed to match the red Powerball.
Players Drew Butler, Casey Hampton, Shaun Suisham and Greg Warren told WPXI-TV they bought $200 worth of tickets for Wednesday night’s drawing for $588 million.
One of that batch of tickets matched four of the first five numbers drawn: 5, 16, 23, and 29.
Butler said the players are happy to get half their money back and said someone posted a comment on Twitter that summed up his feelings.
That person told Butler, “You already hit the lottery because you play for the Steelers.” Egged on
The New Orleans Saints should have realized they were in trouble from the start Thursday after their bus was pelted with eggs the day before - by airport employees - on the tarmac after they touched down at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Tight end Jimmy Graham, linebacker Will Herring and backup quarterback Chase Daniel tweeted about the incident Wednesday night.
Graham wrote on Twitter: “Bus just got egged after landing in ATL by the ramp workers. Classy!”
Daniel tweeted, “Wow ... we start getting eggs thrown (at) us by airport workers! Guess they do hate us!”
Herring seemed amused by the incident.
“First time my bus has been egged by opposing fans!” he tweeted. The game “should be fun!!”
It wasn’t as Drew Brees threw a career-high five interceptions and had his record streak of games with a touchdown pass snapped
Quote of the day “This is it. Whoever wins, the other one can’t say anything about it.” Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton on facing Bentonville for a third consecutive time in the Class 7A state championship game
Sports, Pages 20 on 12/01/2012