Collie admits steroid use with 49ers

Philadelphia Eagles lineman Bruce Collie says he used steroids asa member of the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers and drankalcohol between training camp practices.

The 6-6, 275-pounder told the Philadelphia Daily News areligious awakening helped him kick his drug and alcohol habits abouttwo years ago.

Collie, a fifth-round draft pick from Texas-Arlington, played onthe 49ers' Super Bowl-winning teams in 1989 and 1990. He joined theEagles last season after being waived by the 49ers.

Collie said he kept using steroids after the NFL began testingin 1987. By 1989, when a positive test meant suspension, he said hehad begun phasing out his use.

"I started experimenting with them in college and continued withthem into the pros," he said. "It was a way to get bigger andstronger and do it fast. I passed all the urine tests and I neverhad a problem with it, controlling it. Fortunately, I got off thembefore it became a problem."

Collie said he drank beer and other liquor between practices at49ers camp in Rocklin, Calif.

"I'd go out with the team at night, you know, and eventually Ijust started getting some and drinking between practices, during theday," he said. "I never had what people would consider a seriousproblem with it, to the point where it ruled me, though."

NFL BITS: Deion Sanders hit a three-run homer to start agame-winning rally Wednesday night in his final game this season withthe Atlanta Braves.

The two-sport player is scheduled to report to the AtlantaFalcons today, but said he plans to report Monday.

"I'm going home (to Fort Myers, Fla.) to relax and go fishing,"said Sanders. "I plan on reporting on Monday."

Sanders, who was fined nearly $40,000 last year for reportinglate to the Atlanta Falcons' training camp, may again find himselfpaying to take a break after baseball. M. Paul Fischer, attorney for former New York Jets defensive endMark Gastineau, said his client surrendered to authorities as soon ashe learned he was wanted. Gastineau, 34, was arraigned Tuesday inPhoenix on a July 11 felony indictment charging him with one count ofpossession of dangerous drugs. Dallas Cowboys rookie Tony Boles, who borrowed teammate EmmittSmith's car Monday and disappeared, has returned to camp, a teamspokesman said in Austin, Texas. Boles returned, along with Smith's1991 black Nissan Pathfinder, sometime about 2 a.m. Wednesday. Helater met with Cowboys coaches, spokesman Brett Daniels said. Pittsburgh Steelers guard Terry Long, who acknowledged he attemptedsuicide after flunking the NFL's steroids test, was released from thehospital, officials said in Pittssburgh. The president of an organization formed to lure a NFL expansion teamto Jacksonville, Fla., resigned after being charged with offering anundercover officer $40 for oral sex. Arthur "Chick" Sherrer, 46,president of Touchdown Jacksonville! Inc. is accused in a July 26incident. A judge in Greeley, Colo., has postponed until Tuesday thearraignment of Denver Broncos linebacker Ronnie Haliburton inconnection with a brawl in which he was accused of hitting a policeofficer trying to break up a fight outside a bar. In Covington, Ky., a judge postponed until this fall the trial ofCincinnati Bengals wide receiver Reggie Rembert, who is charged withdrunken driving and other traffic violations.