Stephen Cooper, Inside Linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, is serving a four game suspension for violating the NFL’s banned substance policy.  He tested positive for Ephedra in December 2007, but claims that he was unaware that it was a banned substance despite the fact that it has been illegal in the league since 2001.  Tsk, tsk, Stephen.  What would your mother say (and a Cape Verde mama at that!)?

This is not Cooper’s first brush with the substance abuse police.  His history dates back to 2002 when he was playing for University of Maine and he was caught with possession of 1000 steroid pills.  He was not penalized as possession of steroids as possession of steroids was not an offense by N.C.A.A. standards.  Consequently he went undrafted in 2002 and was drafted by San Diego in 2003.

It is unfortunate that a man who is considered a considerable talent feels the need to stoop to the use of drugs to improve his game.  Overall the feeling is that he is a great instinctive player, who plays a smart game.  That is all you need to really succeed.  Let’s hope he uses his suspension time to reflect on all he stands to lose if he keeps flirting with enhancement drugs. They can be a dangerous mistress.