Written by:

Rebecca Lopez

April 8, 2008

Matt Lehr, who recently signed with the New Orleans Saints, is accused of distributing steroids. David Jacobs, a Plano man who made the steroids allegedly sold by Lehr, spoke out Tuesday.  

"I got involved in something I shouldn't have gotten involved in," he said.

Jacobs said he admits he made steroids in his Plano home and distributed them.

"Yes, I imported raw materials from China and I converted them into a ready-made product and I sold it to some people who in turn sold it to others," he said.

The Justice Department is looking into who Jacobs provided those steroids. Among those he allegedly sold to include Lehr.

"He was like my brother," Jacobs said. "He introduced me to other football players as his brother."

Lehr received a four-game suspension in 2006 when he played for the Atlanta Falcons for using a banned substance.

Lehr's attorney said Jacobs tried to extort money from his client for legal fees and threatened to ruin his football career.

"I don't need money from Matt Lehr," Jacobs said. "I don't need money from anybody, anywhere."

Jacobs said he never named names. Instead, he said it may have been bank records and other evidence that led federal prosecutors to prominent athletes.

"I'm not going to comment on that, but there's a lot more to it than people know," he said when asked of any Dallas Cowboys he may have given steroids to.

Jacobs said he did wrong and it's time for others to admit their part.

"Anyone who's not seeing the obvious nature of what's going on in football is living in denial," he said.

The Dallas Morning News has been investigating Lehr and his connection to the admitted steroid trafficker. Their repeated attempts to reach the former Cowboy at his home and by e-mail have been unsuccessful.