SALAAM TALKS OF ADDICTION

Running back Rashaan Salaam, attempting a comeback with the Oakland Raiders,
says an addiction to marijuana made him withdrawn, caused him to fumble and
nearly ended his career.

Salaam, who won the Heisman Trophy at Colorado in 1994, was plagued by
fumbles with the Chicago Bears, losing 14 in 31 games. He thinks the fumbles
most likely were related to marijuana. "It probably had me out there
lackadaisical instead of being out there 100 percent," he told ESPN in an
interview Sunday.

"Everybody thinks getting high is cool, you can let it go when you want to
let it go," he added. "But it's just as potent as alcohol. It's just as
potent as cocaine."

(snip)