Will Hill third former Florida Gators player to receive NFL suspension for ADHD medication

By Adam Silverstein
October 8, 2012

In the middle of what could only have been considered an epic career turnaround, New York Giants safety Will Hill learned Monday that he has been suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Hill released an official statement immediately following the NFL’s announcement explaining that the suspension is for using Adderall, a drug used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that was prescribed to him by a doctor before he was picked up by New York as an undrafted free agent this summer.

“I received a doctor’s prescription for Adderall prior to signing with the Giants. Shortly after signing with the team, I was in a meeting with [director of player development] Charles Way, who reviewed the list of the league’s banned substances. I knew at that point that this may be an issue. I was tested and the results came back that Adderall was in my system. I appealed but lost the appeal. I accept full responsibility for this situation, and it won’t happen again. The Giants have given me a great opportunity when nobody else would, and I don’t take that for granted. I feel badly this has happened. I will work hard and stay in great shape these next four weeks so I can come back and contribute to this team after my suspension.”

Hill was undrafted after leaving the Florida Gators as a junior in 2011 due to a combination of immaturity and his use of illegal drugs, namely marijuana. He went a long way to fixing that negative reputation over the last year and was signed by the Giants after wowing the team with his character off the field and ability on the field.

Ironically enough, Hill’s suspension comes on the same day that fellow former Florida defensive back Joe Haden, now a member of the Cleveland Browns, completed his four-game suspension for using the same substance.

Haden was found with Adderall in his system during a preseason test but unlike Hill never had a prescription for the drug. He allegedly used it as an upper during an offseason vacation in Las Vegas, NV.

“I would like to apologize to my fans, Haden Nation, the Cleveland Browns organization, front office, all the coaches. I hurt a lot of people. I hurt myself for sure. But I hurt a lot of people with the decision I made, and I just want everybody to know that I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart,” he said Monday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “There’s no script. Nobody told me what to say. I just feel that and I want everybody to know that it was a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes, but my mistake happened to hurt a lot more people than I thought.”

Haden and Hill join New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes as three former Gators that have received NFL suspensions over the last three years for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substance. Spikes was suspended for the final four games of his rookie season in 2010 after testing positive for an ingredient that was contained in his ADHD medication.

Hill will be eligible to return to New York’s active roster on Nov. 5.

7 Comments

  1. walter says:

    I hate to see this! I wasn’t happy with Hill with his lack of consistent effort as a Gator as well as his off-field issues and attitude. But since he learned his lesson, cleaned up his life and priorities I have been solidly behind him and hoping he’ll keep it up. I feel really bad for him snd I hope he keeps working hard and retains his roster spot. The NFL needs to lift that Adderall ban

  2. Tractorr says:

    Hmm, I wonder if this has something to do with the “broken” nature of the program when Muschamp took over the program. Adderall is a very powerful stimulant and can severely affect people when misused. Prescribed and used correctly Adderall is a useful tool for people who NEED it, but people who don’t or who are taking too high a dose can result in, “Mood swings that include hostility and severe aggression.”

  3. gatorboi352 says:

    How can _any_ ingredient in Adderall be a performance enhancer, to the point of benefitting someone of NFL calibur? Maybe I’m out of touch on this…

  4. calgator says:

    Adderall is a stimulant – basically could be used as a type of greenie like everyone talked about in baseball. That is supposedly where Haden got in trouble. The story that came out was that he took them on a trip to Vegas as a pick-me-up.

  5. VO2max says:

    The NFL has rampant drug abuse across the board. Sometimes guys get caught. I don’t condone any of it but don’t let it surprise you one bit. The leagues standards for testing dirty on HGH and testosterone are laughable. These substances are easily attained and utilized by the majority of these freaks who are all trying to get an advantage on million dollar contracts. So don’t be surprised when players venture into other substances as well.

    We hold baseball’s records sacred and scream from the mountain tops when players test dirty. NFL? Nothing to see here, keep moving. It’s complete hypocrisy. Legalize all of it. I could care less. The sports viewing public is, in general, extremely naive to the realities of this subject.

  6. metalligator says:

    I guess I don’t understand.. are you not allowed to have ADHD and be in the NFL? It says he was prescribed the drug…

  7. drew says:

    usually when you say something like “it won’t happen again” you got busted doing something wrong, with no way to deny it. But he says he had a Rx for it. If I’m prescribed a medication and I take it for what it’s prescribed for, then get busted with it in your system I’m not gonna say “it won’t happen again”. In haden’s case when he said it was for a pick me up in Vegas, yeah, that’s no bueno. But if you actually had ADHD as diagnosed by a professional, I can’t see why the NFL wouldn’t let him appeal. Given his past, I’m guessing he didn’t have a RX for it, and that’s why he said he wouldn’t do it again.

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