I suspect Ray Lewis used performance-enhancing drugs to recover from his torn triceps injury. Of course, Lewis has issued an adamant denial, but I do not believe him. His recovery from the completely torn triceps was rather quick.
A torn triceps muscle will typically require surgery. The surgeon will make a small incision in the back of the arm and use stitches to attach triceps tendon to the olecranon process of the ulna (elbow). The surgically repaired arm will remain in a cast or splint for six weeks and the recovery time is a minimum of two months.
Ravens team physicians predicted a four-to-six month recovery plan after Lewis when he tore his triceps muscle on Oct. 17 . Team officials said it was highly unlikely that Lewis would return this season.
Lewis miraculously healed and returned to practice in only two months. His first action occurred in the Wild Card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, where he led the team in tackles with 13. Lewis then went on to the next week against the heavily-favored Denver Broncos and recorded a team-high 17 tackles.
Lewis followed up with another stellar performance in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, recording 14 tackles in a 28-13 beat down, which landed him a trip to New Orleans to play in Super Bowl XLVII.
This is all pretty remarkable for a 37-year-old playing in his 17th season. The devout, outspoken veteran has alluded how God has afforded him of this good fortune and health. Perhaps God healed his triceps. Perhaps the allegations are not true, and according to Lewis, is a "trick of the devil."
The performance-enhancing drug that Lewis allegedly took is deer velvet antler spray. This over-the-counter supplement supposedly increases IGF-1 levels, which improves muscle repair, joint health and relieves joint pain. This supplement reportedly can be used as substitute for human-growth hormone (HGH).
In his highly predictable tirade, Lewis stated he has never tested positive for any banned substances in his entire career. However, Lewis must think we, as in the public, are all ill-advised. If a player did take HGH or deer velvet antler spray, those substances would be undetectable in the standard drug test.
The NFL does not engage in blood testing and does not test for HGH. Unfortunately, there is no way to know how many NFL players are using these substances.
Lewis is in his last season, so I believe he would do anything to return to the playing field as quickly as possible, especially if he had a chance to reach the Super Bowl. It could be the perfect ending for him, similar to how John Elway capped off his Hall of Fame career with a Super Bowl win.
I just don’t believe anything Lewis says, just like I did not believe Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez and all the other athletes who have miraculously healed faster than ever or had positive spikes in performance towards the end of their respective playing careers.
Lewis undoubtedly has an questionable past and character issues. He is linked to a double-murder case that is still unsolved. He has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and eventually settled out of court with the victims’ families.
Now, he is being linked to PEDs, and where there's smoke, there’s usually fire.
