Junior is goned Cancel The title field is required!

1. Sandy Clark

   

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   5/3/2012 10:05 AM

   Junior was more than a football hero to many in San Diego. He did a ton for charity work and according to his friends and former teammates, he was the type of guy that would do anything for you. He was that tough warrior mentality who probably never told a coach or trainer if he was hurting or had his bell rung. It sound locally like he had a tough time adapting to life after football when all the cheering ended. As violent as linebackers play the game and he was clearly one of the toughest to have ever played the position, you have to believe he had some brain trauma over the years. I hope they check his brain out and try to learn more before he is buried. Football lost a star that played the game 100% of the time on every down. It seems they are finding higher levels of depression are linked in many cases to brain trauma. Junior, Rest in Peace!

   
   
   
   
2. Steve Nelson

   

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   5/3/2012 11:05 AM

   Amen Sandy. It is a sad day in San Diego, Seau did a lot for the community and was a wonderful person. I think you're right that there is probably a link to his depression and the head trauma from years of football. In hindsight his car wreck a couple of years ago was probably his first attempt. I think a year or so ago another player shot himself in the chest and left a note that his brain should be studied- I wouldn't be surprised if that's why Junior shot himself in the chest also. It's just so shocking that a person that was so affable and popular with teamates and fans would wind up killing himself due to depression. RIP Junior, we will miss you.

   
   
   
   
3. McCallum David K

   
   5/4/2012 6:05 AM

   Cannot agree more. If San Diego had a Mount Rushomre both Junior and Tony Gwinn would be two faces on it.

   
   
   
   
4. Wahlin Scott B

   
   5/4/2012 6:05 AM

   So many of those guys have depression as a result of brain injuries. Many times depression resulting from that is not treatable. If you want to meet NFL alumni go to an epilepsy fund raiser. There are an inordinate number of them there too.

   
   
   
   
5. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   5/4/2012 3:05 PM

   Wasn't a higher rate of ALS showing up as well? I thought the San Francisco 49ers had cluster of ALS problems pop up several years ago. They were even looking at fertilizers used over the years. I recall Milorganite being singled out but a link was never identified. I think it was more likely related again to head trauma. I guess we have to think twice when complaining about how much sports figures make in a season. They face a huge risk of permanent damage once the short careers are over.

   
   
   
   
6. McCallum David K

   
   5/5/2012 6:05 AM

   Don't believe that Junior ever had a concussion or at least non was reported. It's a tough game and in my opinion some assumed risk with the game as well. I played through high school and my son played at the next level in college and he suffered one known concussion in his 12+ years of football. I think the first time its reported a high schooler after suffering a concussion commits suicide, football as we know it will soon cease to exist. I thnk the legal process will overwhelm the game.

   
   
   
   
7. Joe Wachter

   

   5 posts
   
   5/7/2012 8:05 AM

   Figure the guy played football for 28 years at a fairly high level of play. Was the tough guy and never showed injury.
   
   I think they will have to do some in season testing to insure guys are not covering up issues. I can understand guys fear of losing jobs if they miss a game and another person takes their place. NFL opened a can of worms when they did not address the needs of the old guard. They are going to pay through the nose for after care of their athletes that helped them make billions.

   
   
   
   
8. McCallum David K

   
   5/8/2012 12:05 PM

   Off topic a bit but I think the NFL has opened another can of worms with the bountygate suspensions. I really think the NFL has little real evidence to prove who paid what to whom......like where are the receipts, where are the bank deposits, where is the film of someone taking a handful of cash (like our former congressman who finally after 8 yrs report to a federal pen). The film that opened the entire thing wide open was Williams telling the defensive team in a pregame hotel room meeting to do this and do that but other than that how can they prove it beyound a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If they went to court in New Orleans they would have a hard time finding 12 jurors to convict them of anything.