Everyone is familiar with Ricky Williams’ use of marijuana both during and after his playing days. However, what might raise a few eyebrows for some, is that Williams says marijuana was used to treat pain before he even entered the league in 1999.

In an interview with USA Today, the former Heisman winner and longtime NFL runner shared stories revealing how using cannabis to treat pain was already a part of life in the league long before it became fashionable and more or less legal.

“My rookie year, a Hall of Fame player on the team, he’s in the Hall of Fame now, invited me over to his house and he gave me the speech about how to take care of yourself in the NFL,” Williams said “And he pulled out some cannabis, crushed it up, split a blunt, opened it up, put the cannabis in there, took a Vicodin, crushed it up, sprinkled the Vico in there, rolled up the blunt and passed it to me. That was a vet, teaching me as a rookie, how to take care of myself in the NFL.”

As Pro Football Talk notes, the only Hall of Fame player on the Saints roster during Williams’ rookie year, was Willie Roaf.

25 Sep 1994: Offensive lineman William Roaf of the New Orleans Saints looks on during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game, 24-13.

The second incident Williams discussed took place in 2011, in Baltimore.

“My last year in the NFL, I was playing for the Ravens,” Williams said. “And one point we were in the playoffs and I was leaving the facility and there were guys coming in with a plate full of brownies. They [were] going to go watch film, so yeah. . . . And now, because it’s more legal, it’s to the point, why wouldn’t you [use it] if you’re in the NFL?”

Ricky Williams #34 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2011, in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Bengals 31-24. (Larry French/Getty Images)

The NFL has changed dramatically in its views on cannabis. The league no longer suspends players who test positive if they’re not already a part of the drug program. On top of that, the league makes no secret about when the annual testing period for marijuana begins. Making it painfully easy for players to avoid testing positive and pretty much inexcusable for those few who do.