Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall Says Some NFL Players Use Viagra...Before Games!

Some professional athletes have historically used steroids and other performance enhancing drug to get an edge on their competition. With the crackdown on such substances in leagues the MLB and NFL, players are apparently finding other ways to boost their performance -- like taking Viagra on the football field.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall said that there is a new drug that some players may be using to play better. The initial question was actually about Adderall, a medication for ADHD that has recently come under scrutiny by the NFL.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (Credit: AP)

"I don't know too much about Adderall...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," he said.

"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," the wide receiver added.

Yahoo! Sports provides a little context as to how Viagra could actually improve athletic performance:

To start, though ... Viagra? Seriously? VIAGRA ON THE FIELD? We'll just make two points. In theory, it's possible to see how Viagra could get your blood all fired up, at least for tackling somebody. And in practice, it doesn't seem like it'd be very difficult to see who's using it, if you get our drift.

All joking aside, for a moment, Viagra's benefits aren't just limited to the bedroom; athletes have found that it assists in blood flow, which helps in getting oxygen around the body faster and aids in endurance. It's been used in cycling (at this point, what drug hasn't?) as riders try to gain every possible edge. Even so, expect Marshall, and pretty much every other NFL player who comes in front of a microphone in the next four days, to get asked about this a lot.

And of course, Yahoo! Sports couldn't resist making the obvious joke: "And, of course, if your two-minute drill lasts more than four hours, consult a doctor."

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