Buzzmaster

  (2:56 PM)

Tony Mandarich should be here soon! Send in those questions!

Buzzmaster

  (2:59 PM)

Tony is here!

Charlie from Virginia

Years after playing for Green Bay, you got an opportunity to come back and play for the Colts. How did that come about? Did they contact you, or vice versa?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:00 PM)

My agent let the league know that I was trying to come back and play. Philadelphia was the first team to grant me a work out. Then Indianapolis soon after that gave me a work out and I ended up signing with them.

Matt

I thought you did well when you played for the Colts. What sparked your interest in photography?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:01 PM)

My old girlfriend was a model. I would escort her to photo shoots for security reasons. I would take some pictures when the photographer was taking a break. I realized that my pictures were just as good as the photographers. So I took a liking to it.

Carlos (Mundelein, IL)

What inspired you to change your ways?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:02 PM)

I was in enough pain and I just got sick and tired of making excuses in life. So, I did something about it.

Henry (Buffalo)

Tony, every year when the NFL draft comes around, your name inevitably comes up. Does it hurt to hear people say that you were a bust?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:03 PM)

No, it doesn't hurt. I dont think anybody likes to hear anything bad about themselves. But let's be frank, the years in Green Bay were a bust. But the years in Indianapolis were not.

Mankato MN

I was wondering what kind of message would you tell young aspiring athletes who are thinking about using performance enhancing drugs to gain an edge?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:04 PM)

If I was giving a talk, there's definitely a talk I would give. But watching that video that ESPN did would probably be the best thing to watch. The thing that Kory Kozak did was compelling. It told the truth. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4077362

Garrett (Ames, IA)

Do you ever wish you still had a mullet?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:05 PM)

You know. I have won contests with that mullet. But I have to admit that it has to have been one of the worst things I've seen in my life. That alone has to tell you that I was on drugs.

Rick: Burlington NJ

It takes a lot of guts for you to come out on national tv and tell your story. What made you do it? Did someone contact you or did you decide it would be good to set an example for young kids?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:06 PM)

The No. 1 motive for writing the book and the No. 1 motive for the media exposure was to help people. Whether you call it a cautionary tale or what, but I know this will help people years down the road whether they're athletes or not. There is a problem with addiction.

Jrod Lehigh Fl

do u think u would have been as dominate or even close to where u were without steroids in college

Tony Mandarich

  (3:07 PM)

I think steroids give you about a 20% edge. So, I guess take 20% off the performance. I think I would have been as dominant, but not as punishing. You don't just take steroids and get ability. You have to have ability.

Gary (Phoenix)

Any worries these days about your health? Kidney issues?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:08 PM)

I've had no issues health wise. I feel very lucky because after all the things I did, not just with steroids, but painkillers and alcohol, I'm not dead, but healthy. But I try to give myself the best chance at being healthy.

James B Green Bay WI

Are you going to be doing any signings and where? going to come back to Green Bay at all?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:09 PM)

I would say we're in the middle of organizing all that. Wisconsin will be one of my biggest stops. They'll be my biggest states for the book tour and speaking engagements.

Dylan (Michigan)

Did the coaches at MSU know you were using steroids?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:09 PM)

No. Not that I knew of.

Green Bay Wisconsin

Tony, just watched your piece on ESPN. Im proud of you. Doesnt matter what happened in the past, I can tell you are a humbled man and again I can see that what ever happened to you was for the best..

Tony Mandarich

  (3:10 PM)

I appreciate the comment. I'm grateful that there are open minded fans that see there is a bigger picture here about life and life lessons.

tom nj [via mobile]

Hello Tony. As a recovering addict myself I admire the courage you display in going public. You will help alot of folks. Was it important for you to come back and show you could play at an NFL level drug free? Thanks again!

Tony Mandarich

  (3:11 PM)

It was crucial. It was a crucial part of recovery for me. I had to prove to myself that I could do it sober and clean with no drugs or steroids. I knew it would benefit other people years later, to hear about doing it the wrong way and the right way.

Kyle (OH)

Do you still keep in touch with Axl Rose?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:11 PM)

No, I haven't talked to Axl since 1992.

John, CA

Did the Packers know you were using steroids and were steroids prevelant in the NFL?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:13 PM)

Well, I didn't take steroids in the pros, so there was nothing for the Packers to know. Steroids use in the NFL, back then 20 years ago, was definitely more prevalent than it is now. With the testing they do it makes it tougher and tougher for the athletes to cheat on the test. But it's still around.

Bob (ARIZONA)

what age did you begin using steroids? did you ever use creatine in high school?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:14 PM)

My first steroid usage was with one month left in high school. I was 17 and I used it the next five years. I had never heard of creatine when I was in high school. I'm not even sure if it was around.

Drew (Buffalo)

Did your Colts teammates embrace you when you returned to the game?

Tony Mandarich

  (3:14 PM)

Yes. It was a very, very warm welcome. Pretty much by everybody. Not just the Colts team but everyone in the league.

Tony Mandarich

  (3:15 PM)

I appreciate you taking the time to do the chat. If you want to buy my book, you can go to TonyMandarich.com and you can get an autographed copy there.