NFL Legend Cris Carter Reveals the Truth About How a Lucrative Scheme Opened the Door to His Drug Usage

Cris Carter, a former NFL wide receiver and current analyst for ESPN, was one of the most prolific players in football history. His career numbers are staggering: 1,101 receptions, 14,899 yards, and 130 touchdowns. However, his personal life has been riddled with drug abuse and mental health issues.

Cris Carter is a former NFL player who has been open about his struggles with drug addiction. In the Cris Carters Son article, he revealed how a lucrative scheme opened the door to his drug usage.

Cris Carter, a 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame member, almost had his NFL career end before establishing a reputation as one of the best receivers of all time, despite turning his life around with the Minnesota Vikings. After all, Carter was released by the Philadelphia Eagles after three seasons, raising serious doubts about his pro football future.

Moving to Minnesota, fortunately for the Ohio native, set him on the road to success both on and off the field. Of course, dealing with the problem that caused his breakup in Philly was an important part of his rebirth.

Carter’s drug use started as a consequence of a profitable plan that placed him in a financial situation that was distinct from that of other collegiate athletes.

Cris Carter’s career was almost ruined by drugs and alcohol.

Cris Carter joined the Eagles as a fourth-round supplemental draft selection in 1987.

He lost his job three years later.

Carter was unexpectedly dismissed soon before the start of the 1990 season, despite displaying excellent abilities on the field. According to Don Banks of The Athletic, the Hall of Fame wideout “had recurrent episodes of drug and alcohol addiction” during his tenure with the club and failed three drug tests. As a consequence, coach Buddy Ryan chose to part ways with a player who obviously had the ability to thrive on Sundays.

Carter was acquired off waivers by Minnesota, and the situation soon improved. Carter apparently benefited from a change of scenery that enabled him to move away from friends and peers in Philadelphia, according to reports. The Vikings allegedly engaged an independent drug and alcohol counselor to deal with him.

“(Carter) was suffering when we acquired him, and the Vikings really gave him the assistance he needed,” said Rich Gannon, a former NFL quarterback. “I believe he received some excellent support in a fairly decent locker room. We realized he was a gifted player straight immediately, and we felt we had something special.”

Carter, of course, went on to become one of the best players at his position, putting up impressive statistics with the Vikings over the course of 12 seasons. The eight-time Pro Bowler had 1,101 catches for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns by the time he departed from the game.

Despite his reputation as an all-time great, it’s reasonable to speculate about how much greater Carter might have been if drugs hadn’t been involved. The real tale behind his entrance into that world, on the other hand, demonstrates the frightening side of what can happen when young sportsmen get access to money.

The former NFL star spills the beans on the lucrative plan that led to his drug use.

Episode 29 of Untold Stories

Cris Carter explains how he became addicted to crack after receiving illegal perks at Ohio State. In this NIL world, a warning tale for college players. pic.twitter.com/7XgdOivHhK

September 16, 2021 — Hookah Doncic (@MasterTes)

Carter recently went on an episode of Untold Stories to talk about a few subjects with Master Tesfatsion of Bleacher Report. After expressing his thoughts on the NCAA’s new name, image, and likeness (NIL) regulations, the 55-year-old shifted the discussion to a contentious topic: inappropriate benefits.

Carter’s drug use was ultimately made possible by a profitable plan organized by former sports agents Lloyd Boom and Norby Walters.

“I believe they gave me $15,000,” says the narrator. He said, “I remember picking them up in Columbus, and that’s where we signed the deal the following week.” “I’m not sure whether I’m driving or riding shotgun. I’m keeping track of the money. It was all in the thousands. I believe I was paid $10,000 up front and $5,000 afterwards. I also received a vehicle and was paid $500 each month through Western Union.”

Carter acknowledged that having more spending power as a result of a transaction that directly violated NCAA regulations allowed him to experiment with additional substances.

“It simply enabled me to accomplish more of what I was doing,” he said. “We were only smoking a little weed,” says the narrator. And that’s when folks began using cocaine and rocking it. People had just recently begun to use it in marijuana. A man at a party had placed one in a cigarette, and it seemed like a gun went off in my brain as he did so. That was the first time I had ever encountered anything like it.”

“That was my first time ever taking crack cocaine,” Carter continued. It really blew my head. Unfortunately, it began while I was a student at Ohio State.”

Even in college, the sure-handed wideout continued to produce at a high level, which surprised him. Nonetheless, owing to the erroneous advantages he got, obtaining narcotics became much simpler.

Is it possible that Carter exposed a vulnerability in the new NIL system?

Former Ohio State player Chris Carter talks to Eddie George before the Rose Bowl Game between the Washington Huskies and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Former Ohio State player Chris Carter talks to Eddie George before the Rose Bowl Game between the Washington Huskies and Ohio State Buckeyes. Cris Carter, a former NFL player, revealed how getting illegal perks led to him taking narcotics. | Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Carter’s experience should serve as a warning about the dangers of accepting illicit perks as a collegiate athlete. Sure, the money might be used for food, shelter, or other necessities. However, it’s just as simple to blow that additional income on booze or drugs.

And it’s for this reason that the new NIL regulations are a little worrisome.

Could a scenario similar to Carter’s arise if top athletes at big colleges continue to accept endorsement agreements and grow their spending power at such a young age? We live in a social media-driven culture that values the “fast life” and the display of riches. It’s quite conceivable that having greater fame and wealth may backfire now that sportsmen can profit on their brand.

Finally, Cris Carter deserves a lot of respect for disclosing the truth about his own drug use and how he became acquainted with them. Hopefully, his honesty and experience resonate with amateur athletes, inspiring them to remain on track to accomplish their own goals.

Pro Football Reference provided all statistics.

Calvin Johnson earned $112 million during his illustrious NFL career, but he won’t let a $1.6 million dispute with his former employer go unresolved.

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