Johnny Football on Steroids? Strong evidence?

[AndyMSU]

I pose the question as I could not sleep tonight and began browsing the interwebs a little bit.

On ESPN.com is an article about a speeding ticket Johnny Manziel got a short time ago outside of Dallas in Ennis, Texas. Here is that LINK. When that story loaded I glanced through the first couple of paragraphs and it was nothing too interesting. But before I could click the back button the video had already "auto-started."

A quick glance at the video and I thought to my self "wow he is really sweating being on camera." I also noticed how Reece Davis was not sweating but his face was a little shinny. I enlarged the video and noticed it was actually acne that had covered Johnny's forehead and the sides of his face.

My first thoughts went to steroid or testosterone usage... even at his age of 20 (he just had a birthday December 6th, according to a wikipedia page). So I did a google search of "steroids and acne" The first two results were very similar to what I had understood as common side affects of either steroid or testosterone usage. LINK1 gave a personal insight in how coming off a cycle of various drugs lead to acne and his methods of treatment of the acne. LINK2 gave a very similar story and this person's solutions.

I also did a google search on "acne at age 20" and found a various results, several of which pointed to a Univ. of Alabama Birmingham doctor's survey in which showed very high rates of adult acne in both men and women.

I have to wonder after the things I read this evening and the visual evidence I have seen in the interview is Johnny Manziel on roids or any other performance enhancing drug???????????

Given this week's media hyped stories of Lance Armstrong and Manti Te'o (hope I spelled that right) should this angle about Johnny Manziel be pushed and investigated?

What are your thoughts and opinions on my observations? You think he is on the juice? Or is he just a grezy college kid with adult acne?

 

[CrookedLetta4Eva]

You make a good point but I think you're readin way too much into it.

 

[AndyMSU]

I could be, I think part of that is out of boredom and inability to sleep tonight.

But I also live in a place where you can walk into a pharmacy and ask for testosterone over the counter, they will even inject you right there on the spot or teach you how to inject yourself and sell you the syringes. I have knowledge of a few friends in various stages of their 20's, 30's, and 40's who choose to use these treatments, and I have considered it myself but have yet to do so. Over the next few days at my local gym (incidentally, owned by a couple in their late 50's who are MSU alumni and have named the place Bulldog Gym with an old MSU logo on the sign) I am going to ask those who I know are on the test and steroids cycles what their experiences with acne have been and see if there are any real-life correlations.

I think there is some strong evidence here.

 

[CrookedLetta4Eva]

I will say this, I am 25 now. I, may or may not have, took Test 3 years ago(working out purposes). Acne was not a side effect for me.

 

[engie]

JF has not been on testosterone. Once you've been around enough people that have, you can spot it from a mile away. He also gains minimally from steroid usage at his position -- nothing really other than longevity, which shouldn't be a problem for him at this point.

Acne is a common occurrence in a 20 year old kid. Nothing more...

 

[AndyMSU]

Thank you for you honesty sir! That is the type of response I was looking for...

It also could just be that the kid has acne at the age of 20... maybe he is still going to grow another 5 inches as well, who knows!

 

[Bm4c]

I actually sorta feel sorry for JFF for all the off field attention. Further delving into his life because someone saw him sweating is a little extreme. The whole attitude of "we got our pitchforks out already causa lance and manti, we might as well try and use them on JFF" is also the wrong approach. Lance is a no doubt thug

 

[thatsbaseball]

If he is I wish we`d hand some out in Starkville to Mullen and his team

 

[PBRME]

I just took his acne as he's probably a dirty mother 17er that doesn't clean himself as much as he should. The only dude I knew in college with acne like him showered about once a week.

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

He's not on roids. He just trains with this guy...

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

20 yr olds have acne dude. Especially ones that sweat their *** off with a helmet strapped around their face for 5 months a year. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's definitely not "strong evidence". Strong evidence is not so easily explained away with common sense.

 

[FreeDawg]

I may be out of line

But his gf's looks like her cooch would be a performance enhancing drug. Just sayin

 

[Indndawg]

Acne effects some worse than others
Acne really effects football players bc of the helmets and the humidity and sweat that builds inside
Most of the ppl on this board had moderate acne even at 20, some even have severe and have to be on Accutane. I see little evidience of roid use

 

[IPMdawg]

If you wanted to suspect an SEC athlete of steroids, look to Anthony Steen. Everyone I know from Lee Academy and in the private school ranks swear that Steen used steroids all through high school. No idea if true or not, but the guy is massive.

 

[topbulldawg]

I pose the question as I could not sleep tonight and began browsing the interwebs a little bit.

On ESPN.com is an article about a speeding ticket Johnny Manziel got a short time ago outside of Dallas in Ennis, Texas. Here is that LINK. When that story loaded I glanced through the first couple of paragraphs and it was nothing too interesting. But before I could click the back button the video had already "auto-started."

A quick glance at the video and I thought to my self "wow he is really sweating being on camera." I also noticed how Reece Davis was not sweating but his face was a little shinny. I enlarged the video and noticed it was actually acne that had covered Johnny's forehead and the sides of his face.

My first thoughts went to steroid or testosterone usage... even at his age of 20 (he just had a birthday December 6th, according to a wikipedia page). So I did a google search of "steroids and acne" The first two results were very similar to what I had understood as common side affects of either steroid or testosterone usage. LINK1 gave a personal insight in how coming off a cycle of various drugs lead to acne and his methods of treatment of the acne. LINK2 gave a very similar story and this person's solutions.

I also did a google search on "acne at age 20" and found a various results, several of which pointed to a Univ. of Alabama Birmingham doctor's survey in which showed very high rates of adult acne in both men and women.

I have to wonder after the things I read this evening and the visual evidence I have seen in the interview is Johnny Manziel on roids or any other performance enhancing drug??

Given this week's media hyped stories of Lance Armstrong and Manti Te'o (hope I spelled that right) should this angle about Johnny Manziel be pushed and investigated?

What are your thoughts and opinions on my observations? You think he is on the juice? Or is he just a grezy college kid with adult acne?

I thought the same exact thing after seeing that. I had bad acne, but it was never that bad. That being said, I eventually attributed it to him being 20

 

[SidneyBurger]

From what I've heard about steroid-related acne, it usually only shows up on your back and shoulders. He's not a considerably buff/ripped guy, so I just assume he has regular acne. Judging by his girlfriend, it ain't holding him down a bit.

 

[TheDawgOfWar]

I have to talk to my 13 year about his steroid use now!! That explains everything. **

 

[Indndawg]

This is correct

From what I've heard about steroid-related acne, it usually only shows up on your back and shoulders. He's not a considerably buff/ripped guy, so I just assume he has regular acne. Judging by his girlfriend, it ain't holding him down a bit.

steroid related leisons tend cover the chest/shoulder/back area and even buttocks. Steroids (over time) has many feminization side effects. Pretty sure his GF wouldn't be around a guy that looked like that, esp in th e buff

 

[Balls.sixpack]

Acne doesn't always mean steroids. The guy is a kid, I doubt he is on any kind of sauce.

 

[Balls.sixpack]

Steroids have feminizing effects if not properly cycled. The synthetic test causes the body to stop producing natural testosterone, thus a proper PCT (post cycle treatment) has to be used to restart the body's natural production. Other than possible temporary ball shrinkage, I doubt his girlfriend would notice... unless he had done multiple cycles and ended up with gynecomastia from improper PCT.

 

[AndyMSU]

All i did was state two questions I had and also shared what I looked at for possible information on the subject. Those of you who are being smartasses about checking your 13 year old and the such are just that, smartasses. Flam away all you like but I guess you missed the punctuation and statements like "opinion."

Can without a doubt be simple acne of a 20 year old. Could also be side affects of many other things.

i for one had bad acne on my back and shoulders as a teen, enough to be on daily mess for a few years, but never a 20 years old. This was my only reason to look at what info was available regarding the relationship of steroids and acne.

i never indicted the guy on anything, only raised a question and specifically asked for others opinions. But it is the smartasses of this board that make today worse than what it was in the past.

to those that contributed useful information, I appreciate you input and opinions on the subject. I also now agree that it is likely just an age issue and unfortunate he has it at that age and in that much if a public spotlight.

 

[kired]

Would not surprise me. I'd guess a lot of players in the SEC are on roids, HGH, and whatever else is out there. There's basically no testing for it.

I figure its pretty common among linemen, LBs, and RBs. Seems like it'd be less helpful to skill position guys.

You'd be an idiot to believe it doesn't go on considering the NCAA does very little to prevent it.

 

[RocketDawg]

How is it that you can spot people who use testosterone? What are the symptoms? It's actually something that's often prescribed by doctors.

 

[engie]

Would not surprise me. I'd guess a lot of players in the SEC are on roids, HGH, and whatever else is out there. There's basically no testing for it.

I figure its pretty common among linemen, LBs, and RBs. Seems like it'd be less helpful to skill position guys.

You'd be an idiot to believe it doesn't go on considering the NCAA does very little to prevent it.

This is not correct. The NCAA does test for PEDs... How frequently depends.

They can and do get in trouble for creatine. Seriously.

 

[engie]

How is it that you can spot people who use testosterone? What are the symptoms? It's actually something that's often prescribed by doctors.

Prescribed by doctors as HRT -- not in a performance enhancing manner or dosages.

As the dosage of test goes up, the amount of it that the body naturally converts into dihydrotestosterone and estrogen increases and is noticeable to a trained eye even when taking supplements to block said conversions. Facial puffiness, muscle "water", etc... Once you've seen it enough times, you know it when you do...

There are steroids other than testosterone that can be taken that do not show these visible side effects... but are MUCH more brutal on the body overall if not included with a testosterone supplement...

 

[kired]

I know they test... but it's supposedly easy to avoid getting caught. One guy I've talked to who admitted to using them said it was easy to not get caught. They knew the general times when test were given, so just cycle off. He started after he transferred from JUCO. Went from 265 to about 285 between the time he left JUCO and began his JR season. He said you really had to be stupid, or just not care, to get caught.

Here's a good, recent article on it. Here's just one line I found interesting. There are really no set rules on what happens if a player tests positive on a test given by their school (they only lose eligibility if it's a test given by the NCAA).

"At Notre Dame and Alabama, the teams that will soon compete for the national championship, players don't automatically miss games for testing positive for steroids. At Alabama, coaches have wide discretion. Notre Dame's student-athlete handbook says a player who fails a test can return to the field once the steroids are out of his system"

http://espn.go.com/college-football...roids-loom-major-college-football-report-says

 

[Dawgzilla]

Yeah, how could a QB possibly benefit from being stronger, faster, being able to throw harder, improved eyesight, faster response times, or any of the other benefits that modern steroids provide. Shoot, there's no way doping could improve a baseball player's ability to hit, or a pitcher's ability to throw, right???

 

[engie]

Yeah, how could a QB possibly benefit from being stronger, faster, being able to throw harder, improved eyesight, faster response times, or any of the other benefits that modern steroids provide. Shoot, there's no way doping could improve a baseball player's ability to hit, or a pitcher's ability to throw, right

Show me any documented evidence of a baseball player ever getting faster from steroids(I'll show you 20 that got trememdously slower), gaining throwing velocity at the MLB level(I'll show you 20 position players who lost throwing velocity -- and many pitchers who remained approx constant), improved eyesight(that is hilarious -- who knew an intramuscular injection could reshape corneas), or increased response times(WOW who knew they could speed up a brain's trigger time like this -- seems the army does a disservice by not providing this to all combat forces). I could even take the "ability to hit" argument to task -- since they CERTAINLY don't improve hand-eye coordination -- which is "the ability to hit". They allow it to be hit further, sure...

The fact is the only point you made that is semi realistic in the real world is increased strength. The bigger advantage of the steroid era was the increased longevity at the end of careers that allowed these guys to play another 5 years or so to rewrite the record books, along with less injuries, and quicker healing times from injuries. But given the nature of your first response, you aren't looking for any REAL truth, so I will digress**

 

[TUSK.sixpack]

I'll take the forfeit and 14-0 record. nm

nm

 

[Philly Dawg]

FYI, a lot of players believe that steroid use does improve eyesight. I've had a college player tell me that as an explanation for why another player had a huge jump in BA from one year to the next. I don't know if this is anything proven, but its a widely held belief amongst baseball players.

Also, steroid use is common amongst track athletes (Ben Johnson, Marion Jones, allegations against Jamaican athletes). Again, whether or not there is science to back it up, track athletes believe it makes them faster if they use the right regimen of steroids.

 

[engie]

FYI, a lot of players believe that steroid use does improve eyesight. I've had a college player tell me that as an explanation for why another player had a huge jump in BA from one year to the next. I don't know if this is anything proven, but its a widely held belief amongst baseball players.

Also, steroid use is common amongst track athletes (Ben Johnson, Marion Jones, allegations against Jamaican athletes). Again, whether or not there is science to back it up, track athletes believe it makes them faster if they use the right regimen of steroids.

Steroids do nothing for eyesight. That much is basically scientific. All 99% of everyone is getting is a placebo effect, at best. There is conflicting info out there on whether or not HGH can, but I'd venture to guess that almost no college player can afford or find HGH on a level to truly be effective(it must be taken much more long-term for the positive effects to really go to work...

Of course they CAN make you faster -- if that's what you train for them to do. Read my quote closely, because that is not denied. I'm saying that practically no one in baseball used them for that purpose -- and thus they got bigger and stronger, which = stiffer and slower. I'm sure there were a few that used them for speed -- but there were hundreds that used them for power and longevity.