Ex-NFL players say league supplied them with illegal drugs to combat injuries

As the NFL, and every other major sport for that matter, continually tries to amp up the efforts to eliminate illegal drug usage from their game, a group of retired players in a lawsuit may be shedding some light on the NFL actually being part of the problem at one time by supplying players with narcotics to battle their injuries.

According to the report from ESPN, the players in the suit allege that the league obtained and administered the drugs to individuals illegally in order to get them back to action as quickly as possible so as not to lose any profits.

"The league obtained and administered the drugs illegally, without prescriptions and without warning players of their potential side effects, to speed the return of injured players to the field and maximize profits, the lawsuit alleges. Players say they were never told about broken legs and ankles and instead were fed pills to mask the pain."

The suit includes some very prominent names, including members of the 1985 Chicago Bears team such as Jim McMahon and Richard Dent.

McMahon, who has been known to suffer from multiple health complications since the end of his playing days, says that the drugs actually led to bigger problems down the road.

"McMahon says in the lawsuit that he suffered a broken neck and ankle during his career but rather than sitting out, he received medications and was pushed back on to the field. Team doctors and trainers never told him about the injuries, according to the lawsuit.McMahon also became addicted to painkillers, at one point taking more than 100 Percocet pills per month, even in the offseason, the lawsuit says."

The suit is searching for class-action status for any former player that was supplied narcotics or illegal painkillers by the league at any time during their careers.

The NFL has yet to respond to this allegation, but they should have something put together shortly.