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Topics: NFL
Ryan Baldi
One of the most feared NFL players of all time was no match for opponents on the gridiron. But he once struggled to escape from a pair of handcuffs designed for the bedroom.
Lawrence Taylor is regarded as arguably the greatest defensive player in NFL history.
Drafted in 1981, Taylor spent his entire career with the New York Giants. He was a key player on two Super Bowl triumphs and was named the Defensive Player of the Year three times.
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He was also voted the league's Most Valuable Player in 1986, becoming just the second defensive player ever to win the top individual gong, a feat that has not been matched since.
Known for his ability to burst through offensive lines and sack opposition quarterbacks, Taylor was a terrorising presence during his 12 seasons in the NFL. He was even the player Michael Jordan most feared on the basketball court during their days at the University of Northern Carolina.
But Taylor liked a good time away from the field. His proclivity for female company once led to him turning up to practice handcuffed to two women, with a locksmith required to break him free.
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"A couple of ladies that were trying out some new equipment they had. You know? And I just happened to, and they just didn't happen to have the key," Taylor said.
Taylor also struggled with addiction throughout his career.
"They're handing out free drugs because they want to get in," he said of how drug dealers would try to ensnare famous sports stars. "They want to be in your world. So, everything is free while they're getting into your world. But once they get into your world … oh, they take over your world. No it's their world. And you're just there, just a part of it.
"I'd go through an ounce a day. And at times I'd be standing in the huddle. And instead of thinking what defense we were playing I'd be thinking about smoking crack after the game."
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Thanks to a stint in rehab in 1999 and the support of his family, Taylor managed to overcome his demons. But he doesn't take his recovery for granted.
"I don't look at it like I won't go back. I don't. "Every day I look at it like, it's still a struggle," says Taylor, who admits he's a recovering addict. "I'm recovering. Every day, I'm recovering. I think the likelihood of it happening lessens every day for me. Because, you know, my life is so much better."