"Retired NFL fullback Le'Ron McClain pleads for help...says he needs to get his head checked"

[BobPSU92]

Another sad story. See the link below. From the article:

"(CNN) -- Retired NFL fullback Le'Ron McClain took to Twitter Saturday to plead for help dealing with head and brain troubles he said have resulted from playing football.

In a series of emotional and expletive-filled tweets, McClain said his brain is tired and he needs to get his "head checked."

"Need to tell my story of how my head is crazy and how football did it," McClain wrote. "Please someone help me get this out the @NFL puts paperwork in out (sic) faces and thats it."

Reports show an increasing number of retired NFL players who have suffered repetitive hits to the head have developed memory and cognitive issues such as dementia, Alzheimer's, depression and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative disease of the brain and is associated with repeated head traumas like concussions.

The NFL acknowledged a connection between football and CTE for the first time in 2016 and has since rolled out initiatives intended to increase the game's safety and to prevent and treat head injuries.

But McClain said he hasn't received the treatment he needs and called on the NFL for help."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/26/sport/nfl-leron-mcclain-pleads-for-help/index.html

Hopefully he receives the required treatment soon.

 

[NittPicker]

If he seriously expects the NFL to help I think he'll be sadly disappointed. That'll open the door for other former players to come to the league for treatment. That means the league will have to spend money on something other than the owners and commissioner. The NFL is all about the money. No matter what they say, they don't truly give a damn about former players unless it's a former superstar who can help market the league.

 

[Obliviax]

I feel bad for the guy but we need to tap the breaks on this stuff. This guy, in particular, was arrestsed for drug trafficing in 2014. So it is quite possible his problems are drug related and not football/CTE. Also, Buzz Aldrin wrote a book on his problems with depression and alcohol after retiring as an astronaut. he has written extensively about the problems of realizing all of your life's dreams and "aging out" ~ 40 years old. It is really hard to transition to a meaningful life after pro sports....you just can't get that 'high' anymore.

 

[BobPSU92]

I feel bad for the guy but we need to tap the breaks on this stuff. This guy, in particular, was arrestsed for drug trafficing in 2014. So it is quite possible his problems are drug related and not football/CTE. Also, Buzz Aldrin wrote a book on his problems with depression and alcohol after retiring as an astronaut. he has written extensively about the problems of realizing all of your life's dreams and "aging out" ~ 40 years old. It is really hard to transition to a meaningful life after pro sports....you just can't get that 'high' anymore.

I didn't know McClain's history. Thanks for the background information. Still, I'd like to see him get the tests needed for a diagnose and then whatever treatment is required. Of course, there will be the debate of who should pay for it (assuming he can't).

 

[Obliviax]

I didn't know McClain's history. Thanks for the background information. Still, I'd like to see him get the tests needed for a diagnose and then whatever treatment is required. Of course, there will be the debate of who should pay for it (assuming he can't).

I may be wrong here but I am pretty certain that treatment is available to him. It was part of the NFL's settlement.