Former Bucs player used drugs night before he died

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers lineman Thomas McHale, who was found dead at a friend’s Tampa-area home on Sunday, was using anti-depression medicine and cocaine the night before he died, authorities said.

According to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office report released Wednesday, a friend of Thomas McHale told deputies he saw McHale take several Xanax pills and use cocaine. McHale was found dead at the home of Jackson Martin.

The 45-year-old was an offensive lineman for the Bucs from 1987-92, then spent two years with the Philadelphia Eagles and a year with the Miami Dolphins.