Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:19 am EDT

Terry Bradshaw was all 'roided up

By MJD

I doubt that it's going to cause much of an uproar or that anyone will be calling for asterisks on the four Super Bowl trophies that the Steelers won in the 70s (although Patriots fans might want to leave it in their backpocket as kind of a trump card), but Terry Bradshaw admitted last week that he used steroids during his playing career.

If you're detecting a lack of surprise in my tone, congratulations on being perceptive. I already looked at the 70s Steelers as doing for steroids what the Bill Walsh 49ers did for the west coast offense. The 'roids were legal then, no one was testing for it, and there's no way the Steelers were the only ones. At the time, no one knew any better.

Here's what Bradshaw said on Dan Patrick's radio show:

“We did steroids to get away the aches and the speed of healing. My use of steroids from a doctor was to speed up injury, and thought nothing of it. … It was to speed up the healing process, that was it. It wasn’t to get bigger and stronger and faster.”

That may not have been the intent, but according to Jim Haslett, that's what it did. And while we're on the subject of unintended side effects, now might also be an appropriate time to mention that 70s Steelers are are dying off like NYC construction workers in The Happening.

Gracias, Larry Brown Sports. 

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2229 Comments

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  1. Hitman
    1. Posted by Hitman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    So this is the foundation of the famous "steel curtin"? No wonder the Steelers (maybe the more appropiate name should be Stealers) were such a physical force. Super Bowl Champions by virtue of steroids. Now it all becomes clear.
  2. Thunderball
    2. Posted by Thunderball Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    This bums me out.
    Terry keep your mouth shut guy!
  3. Older_than_Moses_Shaq
    3. Posted by Older_than_Moses_Shaq Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    In other words it was similar to Big Brown, therapeudic steroids. Not to be confused with performance enhancing steroids even though they're the exact same ones being used. We've seen the results of ex-NFL players who abused them dying horrible deaths in recent years which should at least open some eyes to what happens to those who choose that path. Bradshaw would've been better off leaving it at that so the focus would be on them rather than guys who used it under a doctor's supervision.
  4. FairlyHonestBob
    4. Posted by FairlyHonestBob Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    It was the seventies. Everybody was on something.
  5. Fuckelz
    5. Posted by Fuckelz Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:10 pm EDT

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    who cares..... Steroids and sports go together like cookies and milk....Peanut butter and Jelly, bacon and eggs.......So what.....I want some roids...
  6. LARRY E
    6. Posted by LARRY E Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Can we just get over this? It is totally unquestionable that athletes in ALL sports have, and continue to take, steroids, either as "healing agents" or as performance enhancers. Why should we care? They are producing a product that a vast majority of people demand, and are willing to pay a lot of money to see.
    Whether the athletes, be they football, hockey, soccer, or tennis players, Olympic athletes, (even golfers), take steroids is their business..........not the fans.
    There are millions of sports fans, all who want to see "performances" that are inspiring, sensational and 'other-worldly'. This is what the athletes are well paid to provide, and, if they do that with a little "help", so be it.
    Get over it.
  7. g b fan
    7. Posted by g b fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    I loved the steelers of the 70s...........
    now i now why they were so good.........
  8. Jimmy The Gooch
    8. Posted by Jimmy The Gooch Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    My god people. Rules are rules. Back then this was ok. They also used stickum, motor oil on there uniform
    and many other item that you cant do or use now. Give it a rest.
  9. terry b
    9. Posted by terry b Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:33 pm EDT

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    even if athletes take steroids does not change the fact that the STEELERS are the best team to ever play the game GO STEELERS
  10. THE RAPH
    10. Posted by THE RAPH Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    What was the point of him admitting?
  11. LBOOGIE
    11. Posted by LBOOGIE Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    The above comment is right. Tatum used to clothesline/ Deacon used to head slp the crap out of linemen. LT used cocain during and after playing, Stckum was everywhere ask Tatum, Hendricks and others. The 60's and 70's was brutal war years in pro football. So it doesn't mean anything now. The people who took roids did it and now they are paying the price with their lives. Look at so many of formal athletes dying in their 50's and early 60's from abnormal heart conditions and other symptoms? makes me wonder!!!
  12. Eric N
    12. Posted by Eric N Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    thank you for being forthright and honest... you just stole everyone's thunder
  13. Mustang
    13. Posted by Mustang Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    It certainly didn't help him keep his hair, now did it -that injury will last forever.
  14. Arian R
    14. Posted by Arian R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    how about singers?
  15. Mark P
    15. Posted by Mark P Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:26 pm EDT

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    The Steelers cheating as usual. Immaculate reception of steroids! I'm just waiting for the official in the tuck rule incident to tell us that he overuled his own call bacause Guido from Las Vegas gave him a call.
  16. parklife420
    16. Posted by parklife420 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:59 pm EDT

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    Teams are competing as hard as they can, looking for every advantage possible. Some doctor comes along and says, "Hey, we can get all your injured guys back on the field a whole lot faster...Just one little shot...", and then the guys come back and are better than ever. Of course they're gonna use it. Of course it's a shame, but it's hard to blame them.
  17. Chris S
    17. Posted by Chris S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    First there is a difference between steroids. Anyone who has ever gotten a cortizone shot or who inhales an albuteral sprayer for their asthma is taking steroids. So the muffin heads in comment number 5 and 3 should actually do a little reading before they comment.
    Second If used properly steroids work fine. the problem comes when they overdue it. It wouldn't suprise me if 95% of all athletes take roids. They ones who have problems are the ones who take 10,15,50 times the normal amount and then mix it with other stuff.
    Last if it wasn't illegal you can't castigate people for taking it. That would be like someone taking vitamin C and then it becomes illegal later on. Now you wnat to destroy all their accomplishments because they were law abiding.
  18. sam spade
    18. Posted by sam spade Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:12 pm EDT

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    Sounds to me like Terry was being black mailed. he'd paid a few payments. He told this story so that whoever was going to try and sell it to whatever tabloid will get nothing now.
  19. 8t2luze
    19. Posted by 8t2luze Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Do you honestly think the Steelers of the 70's were the only team taking them? I'm not a Steelers fan but who care...it doesn't take away from what they accomplished because everyone was doing it back then.
  20. VIN K
    20. Posted by VIN K Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

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    albuteral sprayer for their asthma is taking steroids. Chris S posted on Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 6:52 pm EDT
    wrong. albuterol is NOT a steroid . . . it is a bronchodilator . . .
  21. Victor
    21. Posted by Victor Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:32 pm EDT

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    Terry speaks out for the Steelers then all the teams in the league must be using them also. It is a fair game. Steelers still the most talented team in the 70s with or without roids.
  22. jgmart57
    22. Posted by jgmart57 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Let me help those who can't or refuse to understand... Fact #1: Steriods WERE NOT ILLEGAL back in the 70's. Fact #2: I'm reasonably sure that the Steelers were not the only team using steriods. Fact #3: The Steelers of the 70's were the most dominate football team... EVER... Had it not been for a cheap shot on Franco in the playoffs ( by the then Baltimore Colts ) which prevented him from playing in the AFC Championship game against Oakland ( We were down to one healthy running back ), we would have had the "One For The Thumb" alot sooner than 2005.
  23. ocean
    23. Posted by ocean Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    So if he said they used to steal signals then would it taint anything since it wasnt a rule?
    If this were the Patriots, say Brady, they would be crucified for this!!! And if you can say he was not the only one doing it, than you could say that the Patriots werent the only ones trying to steal signals! So hipocritical....And it just proves even more that its only because modern fans are tired of the Patriots winning.
    Go Patriots, greatest team of the decade and the salary cap era!
  24. ocean
    24. Posted by ocean Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    I dont care if they said the entire Steeler team were doing it, I'd still think they were the best team of that time! Just like people should just admit the Patriots are the best team of this time because they have the best players, not cause they looked at coaches!
  25. BigBoystl
    25. Posted by BigBoystl Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    COWBOY FANS REJOICE!!! We knew they were cheating all along!!! NOW WE HAVE PROOF!!!

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