LOS ANGELES -- A former friend said O.J. Simpson confessed to killing his ex-wife weeks after he was acquitted.

In a new book, Mike Gilbert claims that he was at Simpson's home in Brentwood when the ex-football star talked about the 1994 killing of Nicole Brown Simpson.

Simpson said he had gone to the condo without a weapon but Nicole was holding a knife when she answered the door.

Then, according to Gilbert, Simpson mumbled, "If she hadn't opened that door with a knife in her hand ... she'd still be alive."

Gilbert said Simpson had smoked pot, taken a sleeping pill and was drinking beer when he made the comment, but Gilbert is convinced it was a genuine confession.

Nicole and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were stabbed to death outside the condo. No knife was found.

Gilbert also claims he helped Simpson wiggle out of the murder charges by suggesting how to bloat his hands so they wouldn't fit the notorious bloody gloves. Gilbert said he told Simpson to stop taking his arthritis medicine.

Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, said none of Gilbert's claims are true and called him "a delusional drug addict who needs money."

A former partner of the memorabilia dealer said Gilbert is known for making up stories.

Gilbert's book is called: "How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder." It's due in stores Monday but it was released to The Associated Press in advance.