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Saints and Hydrocodone

Lawsuit says Saints covered up stolen Vicodin
Associated Press/AP Online


By BRETT MARTEL

NEW ORLEANS - Less than three months after their thrilling victory in the Super Bowl, the New Orleans Saints have been accused by their former security director of trying to cover up the theft of prescription pain pills from the club's drug locker.

One of those involved was head coach Sean Payton, two people familiar with the case told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the suit. Payton and the Saints denied the allegations, and Payton was not named in court papers.

The lawsuit, filed Friday by Geoffrey Santini, a former FBI agent who resigned from the club in August 2009, alleged one senior staff member stole Vicodin pills while another was given an amount large enough to constitute abuse.

The suit did not name the staff members. However, the two people familiar with the case said Payton allegedly was allowed to take a large quantity of pills from the team supply, and another staff member allegedly stole pills. No allegations were made against any Saints players, the two people said.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said the allegations are false and the club will aggressively defend itself in court. And Payton, who was at his vacation home in Watercolor, Fla., on Saturday, denied any wrongdoing.

"I have reviewed Geoff Santini's lawsuit and the unwarranted publicity it has received," Payton said in a statement released by the team. "I have never abused or stolen Vicodin or any other medication and I fully support the Saints' position in this matter."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that while the league had not read the complaint, "we are aware of the lawsuit and that the Saints reject the claims as false."

The theft of Vicodin, a narcotic used to relieve moderate to severe pain, is a state and federal offense. Any attempt to cover up such a theft also could constitute a state or federal crime. Failure to report a felony also is a federal crime.

Santini's attorney, Donald Hyatt II, said he was not aware if any criminal charges had been filed. He said if there was a sealed indictment it would not have been made public.

Santini reported the possible violations to federal authorities on June 23, 2009. He resigned from the Saints on Aug. 16, 2009, and first alerted the Saints of his intent to sue the club on Sept. 14, Hyatt said.

Santini worked 31 years for the FBI. His lawsuit says he resigned from the Saints because of a disagreement over the team's handling of the Vicodin episode.

Santini is seeking damages and back pay.

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the news
 
Rx abuse is pretty rampant in all walks of life, I wouldnt imagine that professional athletes are in any way above that.

Nothing really surprises me with athletes any more. Too be honest, it doesnt even bother me...
 
Makes perfect sense to me. The players are asked to perform through pain and at a very high level. Prescription opiods would be a very easy way to help alleviate any pain. Especially hydrocodone being a schedule 3 when with APAP makes it that much easier.

In general players don't seem to test positive for these drugs though. Maybe they obtain prescriptions or maybe its just looked over.

A few years ago a patriots player was charged with selling oxycontin which is a pretty big deal nowadays. Personally I don't know any oxy dealers that don't use themselves so its implied IMHO that he uses himself. I mean if I was getting paid to use my body on a level that they do opiods would be a no brainer.

I saw a special on an mma fighter. One fighter turned him on to the drug scene and before you know it he couldn't fight without em. For regular people functioning without their drug (after addiction) is tough enough. I can only imagine having all those resources and that level of competition making it worse.
 
I bet the only reason they dont test positive is because opiates stay in your system for a relatively short time.

While I wouldnt be surprised if a lot of players used them, I would be surprised if a lot of players actually had a dope habit. It would be very hard to compete on a professional level while being a junky.
 
^^^ It means people can function quite well, even with enormous dope habits, as long as they dont have to run out of dope






you said it would be hard to compete being a junky, JB stated that it wouldnt be hard at all to compete as a junky as long as you never run out of drugs.
 
I suppose. There is just no way I could even compete at the college level if I had a dope habit like I used to.. No way. The number of hours you put in, the level of focus required, the mental apsects of competition.

Maybe that's just me.

Again, not saying tons of guys dont recreationally use opiates, but I think there is a line between that and junky status
 
OK I see what you mean. Junky is just a term though and there are many levels of addiction and dependence. Many people live their day to day lives on massive doses of prescription pain meds.
 
I would consider anyone with a dependence to be a junky. Unless they actually NEED it for pain management.

Who am I to judge. I am sure if I had that kind of money I would be getting fuxx0red on the daily.
 
I was a pretty good football player in high school and college. it is hard on your body and while some athletes turn to steroids I liked opiates better. it is rare on the surface, but you all know once you are in the scene you can easily smell out other users, where to score, and how to do it.
 
axl blaze said:
I was a pretty good football player in high school and college. it is hard on your body and while some athletes turn to steroids I liked opiates better. it is rare on the surface, but you all know once you are in the scene you can easily smell out other users, where to score, and how to do it.
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where did you go to high school? or where at in Ohio did you play?
 
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