This Johnny Football thing getting scary

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

As someone in long term recovery let me share a few things. From what I see/hear JM is indeed at great risk. When the cucumber becomes a pickle it cannot revert back. This will only end one of 3 ways... locked-up, covered up, or sobered up. The common idiom "they need to hit rock bottom" only applies if the person doesn't end up dead first. I work a lot with young adults suffering from this affliction and there seems to be a common theme... chronic uniqueness. When I was at my lowest and working through a bitter divorce, financial failure, etc..., I felt the whole world was against me... like I was the only person in the whole world suffering pain and misery, blah, blah, blah. That self centered-ness is really the root of substance abuse. JM will either work himself through to a spiritual awakening of sorts that he is a typical alcoholic/addict, and that humility and acceptance are the keys to a joyful life, or he will end up a statistic. There are miracles everyday... my good friend Charles Haley is a great example.

 

[Obliviax]

As someone in long term recovery let me share a few things. From what I see/hear JM is indeed at great risk. When the cucumber becomes a pickle it cannot revert back. This will only end one of 3 ways... locked-up, covered up, or sobered up. The common idiom "they need to hit rock bottom" only applies if the person doesn't end up dead first. I work a lot with young adults suffering from this affliction and there seems to be a common theme... chronic uniqueness. When I was at my lowest and working through a bitter divorce, financial failure, etc..., I felt the whole world was against me... like I was the only person in the whole world suffering pain and misery, blah, blah, blah. That self centered-ness is really the root of substance abuse. JM will either work himself through to a spiritual awakening of sorts that he is a typical alcoholic/addict, and that humility and acceptance are the keys to a joyful life, or he will end up a statistic. There are miracles everyday... my good friend Charles Haley is a great example.

Best post of the year. "Bottomed Out" only happens when the person is still alive. For those trying to help, its a worthless task until the addict understands that a) he/she is addicted and b) that they can make it to a better way.

They then quit, but get the "come on, dude....you used to be fun, great to be around, we can go out and have one drink, what's the harm?", you can stay strong until late at night when you are lonely and busted. Then you are at the greatest risk.

And, I have to say, it is even MORE difficult when you are getting that line from a gal that looks like that (who appears to also be addicted).

Not only do you have to give up the booze, the drugs, the limelight, the chicks, you also have to give up the lifestyle.

Always enjoy your enlightened posts, Eric...best of luck to you.

 

[psu00]

My late father in law was a psychologist who worked with substance abusers and one of my best friends is an alcoholic who's been sober for 25 years....AA is one of the most important things in his life.

Anyway, he's fairly ambivalent about these guys. They have to really bottom out and come to grips with the situation before you can begin to help them. As you said I hope he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else before he does.

Honestly, it looks like everyone has tried to get through to him with no success. It's time they all backed off and threw the book at him- for his own good.

That means when Cleveland cuts him in March- Dallas better not pick him up. Don't show him that this is all ok- it was just the Cleveland Browns (and not him) being the problem.

His family needs to keep pounding away at him going to rehab but cut him off from family $$$.

The next time he or his girlfriend call the police leading to ground and air searches for their safety but then refuse to cooperate with police- they need to both be billed for the cost of the search and response. Nothing like calling the police and then refusing to cooperate with them fixing the problem you called about.

His agent has already left him. All other agents should stay away.

Time to really bottom him out quickly. The hospitals/ clinics can't do anything until he agrees to fix the problem. The longer this goes on, the greater a danger he is to himself and others.

 

[simons96]

As someone in long term recovery let me share a few things. From what I see/hear JM is indeed at great risk. When the cucumber becomes a pickle it cannot revert back. This will only end one of 3 ways... locked-up, covered up, or sobered up. The common idiom "they need to hit rock bottom" only applies if the person doesn't end up dead first. I work a lot with young adults suffering from this affliction and there seems to be a common theme... chronic uniqueness. When I was at my lowest and working through a bitter divorce, financial failure, etc..., I felt the whole world was against me... like I was the only person in the whole world suffering pain and misery, blah, blah, blah. That self centered-ness is really the root of substance abuse. JM will either work himself through to a spiritual awakening of sorts that he is a typical alcoholic/addict, and that humility and acceptance are the keys to a joyful life, or he will end up a statistic. There are miracles everyday... my good friend Charles Haley is a great example.

JM's ego is not his amigo.

congrats again on your recovery. stay away from internet bullies at malarkey's.

 

[12375CAT]

Very silly jerk!

 

[sarasotan]

There are much more attractive girls who don't even drink. Unfortunately, if they're bright, they wouldn't go out with him if he was the last drunk on earth.

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

Best post of the year. "Bottomed Out" only happens when the person is still alive. For those trying to help, its a worthless task until the addict understands that a) he/she is addicted and b) that they can make it to a better way.

They then quit, but get the "come on, dude....you used to be fun, great to be around, we can go out and have one drink, what's the harm?", you can stay strong until late at night when you are lonely and busted. Then you are at the greatest risk.

And, I have to say, it is even MORE difficult when you are getting that line from a gal that looks like that (who appears to also be addicted).

Not only do you have to give up the booze, the drugs, the limelight, the chicks, you also have to give up the lifestyle.

Always enjoy your enlightened posts, Eric...best of luck to you.

Thanks for kind words.

Back in the day I nearly killed myself on $100k/yr. If I had millions I would have never made it. When I tell my story I always say the only difference between me and Charlie Sheen was I ran out of money.

I've spent enough time at Hazelden and McClan's to know that his girlfriend is textbook Borderline Personality Disorder. Mentally ill people find each other... like Sid and Nacy

 

[Offside Clyde]

This guy has a problem for sure. But I for one do not feel bad for him at all. He had every advantage in life and blew it. He came from a well-to-do family. He was blessed with a ginormous athletic gift and made it into the NFL. But, he decided partying was the most important thing in life. I do hope he gets the help he needs. But I am not going to boo hoo for him if he doesn't. He brought this on himself and has nobody to blame but himself. It sounds as though the people around him have tried to do just about everything they can to help him.

 

[simons96]

This guy has a problem for sure. But I for one do not feel bad for him at all. He had every advantage in life and blew it. He came from a well-to-do family. He was blessed with a ginormous athletic gift and made it into the NFL. But, he decided partying was the most important thing in life. I do hope he gets the help he needs. But I am not going to boo hoo for him if he doesn't. He brought this on himself and has nobody to blame but himself. It sounds as though the people around him have tried to do just about everything they can to help him.

you cannot help those who will not help themselves. Sadly, I think I guy like manziel gets surrounded by a LOT of enablers.

and of course the disease of addiction makes you get SO ATTRACTED to other people who are nothing but chaos.

 

[rjg82]

He may end up following her path. At the rate he's going, sadly he will reach the end sooner than her.

My thoughts exactly ^^^

 

[Rollin Stone]

A lot of people believe that Billie (his disguise name from Vegas) wanted to go to the Cowboys and did a lot of what he did to get traded or released from Cleveland and was trying everything in the book to do so. At draft time Jerry had a Jones for him (pun intended).

JF's behavior fed into and exacerbated his already known substance abuse problems. Of course the Browns GM didn't do his homework on Foosball's past and the owner thought JF would be good for publicity and getting season tickets sold, which it did initially. Unfortunately it was short term pain for long term gain.

Actually they did do their homework on him and there were many scouts in the browns organization against the pick, but the "I know better than you" GM, drafted him anyways. Of course that GM is looking foe work now.