Junior Seau commits suicide (1 Viewer)

[cstu]

For those subscribing to the mass CTE hysteria...

Slate article

At the request of the NFL Players Association, government scientists compared the death rates for almost 3,500 of the league's retirees to those for age- and race-matched non-athletes over the same years. The football players had much longer lives: Just 334 of them had passed away, compared with an expected total of 625.

I, for one, am shocked that athletes live longer than non-athletes.As for the 59% lower suicide rate for athletes, how about adjusting that for level of income?

 

[cobalt_27]

For those subscribing to the mass CTE hysteria...

Slate article

At the request of the NFL Players Association, government scientists compared the death rates for almost 3,500 of the league's retirees to those for age- and race-matched non-athletes over the same years. The football players had much longer lives: Just 334 of them had passed away, compared with an expected total of 625.

I, for one, am shocked that athletes live longer than non-athletes.As for the 59% lower suicide rate for athletes, how about adjusting that for level of income?

Certainly, a fair issue to dissect, but I think you're missing the point...

We don't need the CDC numbers to tell us that the national debate over head trauma and suicide has long since outpaced the scientific evidence. Just a handful of cases so far support the notion that repeated head injuries (concussive or otherwise) can lead to drug abuse, aggression, and self-harm. No one knows the baseline rate of chronic traumatic encephalopathy among athletes, let alone the general population. No one knows whether the pathological signs of CTE—microscopic spots in the brain, found after death—relate to behavioral symptoms like dementia and depression. And no one can explain how repeated knocks to the head might produce CTE, or how CTE might produce suicidal thoughts. Yet in spite of our near-total ignorance, a moral panic has taken hold: Elaborate explanations are concocted when simple ones will do. Faced with the regrettable facts—a troubled man dies a lonely death—we resort to hocus-pocus theorizing about tau proteins and fibrillary tangles. It's a form of denial: By obsessing over hidden trauma, we ignore what's right in front of us. Many ex-NFL players have sad and difficult lives.

 

[Gandalf]

For those subscribing to the mass CTE hysteria...

Slate article

At the request of the NFL Players Association, government scientists compared the death rates for almost 3,500 of the league's retirees to those for age- and race-matched non-athletes over the same years. The football players had much longer lives: Just 334 of them had passed away, compared with an expected total of 625.

I, for one, am shocked that athletes live longer than non-athletes.As for the 59% lower suicide rate for athletes, how about adjusting that for level of income?

Even if we believe these data which is a big if for a variety of reasons, there is so much more to this than just death. Quality of life? Rate of dementia? Etc...

 

[Max Power]

Cute read, but the "facts" in that article don't mean anything when looking at the big picture.

what can you really conclude by comparing 1% of the population to the other 99%? The Article even cites a study that concludes only 18% of the former NFL players were obese while the national average is 36%. So it would stand to reason they are healthier and would live longer.

I'm not in the camp to say CTE = Suicide. But we do know these couple of things...

-CTE is associated with symptoms like depression and early-onset dementia, as well as neurological problems like memory loss or confusion, and more fundamental personality changes like irritability and aggression

-CTE is most commonly found in people who have experienced head trauma

I'm willing to bet that professional athletes represent a higher % of documented CTE cases than the norm. CTE might not be the cause of suicide, but to totally rule it out as a contributing factor is irresponsible.

 

[cobalt_27]

Cute read, but the "facts" in that article don't mean anything when looking at the big picture.

what can you really conclude by comparing 1% of the population to the other 99%? The Article even cites a study that concludes only 18% of the former NFL players were obese while the national average is 36%. So it would stand to reason they are healthier and would live longer.

I'm not in the camp to say CTE = Suicide. But we do know these couple of things...

-CTE is associated with symptoms like depression and early-onset dementia, as well as neurological problems like memory loss or confusion, and more fundamental personality changes like irritability and aggression

-CTE is most commonly found in people who have experienced head trauma

I'm willing to bet that professional athletes represent a higher % of documented CTE cases than the norm. CTE might not be the cause of suicide, but to totally rule it out as a contributing factor is irresponsible.

There are many alternative explanations for why retired football players experience depression, memory loss, confusion, personality change, etc.There are many alternative explanations for why retired football players develop dementia.

Because the brain zombies, predominantly in Boston and UCSD, are the ones studying this thing, we're in the early stages. So far, they are not comparing brains of age-matched controls. They're just finding CTE in athletes they've been studying (predominantly football players). And, they are speculating, based on the known metabolic cascade of effects of concussion and repetitive sub-concussive hits that this is what translates into these abnormal tau depositions they have called chronic traumatic encephalopathy...even though they have no idea if a chronic, traumatic process is what has caused the tau depositions in the first place. They have an agenda and are working the science to confirm their hypothesis (not refute it, as we are supposed to do in science).

Anyway, I wouldn't rule out CTE as a contributing factor. It's too early in the game to do that. It's a fascinating development in neuroscience. But, like many issues that come up where science and public health policy intersect, the race to find answers leads to sloppy science. I fear this is precisely what we are witnessing in real time. A responsible scientist and responsible consumers of this information should be intrigued and want to know more. We are not there yet. That's all.

 

[Raider Nation]

I wasn't even looking for this, specifically. I just stumbled upon it.

Seau's first game ever

(Emmitt's first game also)

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Herd they are closing JR's restaurant in mission valley. It was a cool place.

 

[Tau837]

From this week's Sports Illustrated:

With Junior Seau's death putting the spotlight back on the health of retired NFL players, journalists and radio hosts last week recycled a scary statistic. As ABC News reported it: "The average life expectancy of a retired football player is 58, according to the NFL Players Association ... a stark contrast to the average American man's life expectancy of 75."

The trouble is that this oft-repeated number (sometimes 58, other times 55) is false. That bit of gridiron legend has been around since at least 1990, when the NFLPA asked the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to investigate the statistic's accuracy. NIOSH tracked nearly 7,000 players and issued a report, in '94, concluding that NFL retirees were dying at about half the rate of their American male peers. In other words NFL players, in general, live longer.

In January, a second NIOSH report again found that NFL players were outliving their non-NFL cohort, partly due to lower cancer rates that could be the result of their lower rate of smoking. NIOSH also found that former players were at a decreased risk of dying from heart disease (with the exception of players who had a high body mass index). And the rate of suicide among NFL vets was 59% lower than in the general population. Overall, for the 3,439 ex--NFL players in the more recent study, NIOSH projected 625 deaths, using nonathlete mortality rates, but observed only 334 (chart).

The NFLPA tells SI that it did not provide the number used in the ABC News report, so it is difficult to know why the age 58 figure is still being disseminated. Certainly the current public discussion about player health is an important one to have. But for the good of those same players, it should remain grounded in data.

 

[fatness]

we really don't have the foggirEst clue what we're talking about.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Awesome read

http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/14/junior-seau-real-story/

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Thanks for posting that.

 

[Bri]

thanks for sharing that link

 

[pittstownkiller]

Awesome readhttp://m.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/14/junior-seau-real-story/

That is sobering.

 

[glumpy]

Awesome readhttp://m.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/14/junior-seau-real-story/

That is sobering.

Incredible stuff. Hindsight is enlightening.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Next week: A life unravels.

Please somebody, remember to post this.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Within 12 to 24 months of retiring, three out of four NFL players will be one or more of the following: alcohol or drug addicted; divorced; or financially distressed/bankrupt

One of the most mond blowing things in this article was this. I couldnt believe that the percentages were THAT high!

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Next week: A life unravels.

Please somebody, remember to post this.

A life unravels

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Within 12 to 24 months of retiring, three out of four NFL players will be one or more of the following: alcohol or drug addicted; divorced; or financially distressed/bankrupt

One of the most mond blowing things in this article was this. I couldnt believe that the percentages were THAT high!

Wow...that is too bad.

 

[tjnc09]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130110/junior-seau-brain-disease-cte.ap/?sct=hp_t2_a5Junior Seau had brain disease CTE

 

[Slapdash]

Within 12 to 24 months of retiring, three out of four NFL players will be one or more of the following: alcohol or drug addicted; divorced; or financially distressed/bankrupt

One of the most mond blowing things in this article was this. I couldnt believe that the percentages were THAT high!

Wow...that is too bad.

Unreal

 

[Catbird]

Within 12 to 24 months of retiring, three out of four NFL players will be one or more of the following: alcohol or drug addicted; divorced; or financially distressed/bankrupt

One of the most mond blowing things in this article was this. I couldnt believe that the percentages were THAT high!

Wow...that is too bad.

Unreal

These numbers need to be a lot clearer to mean much. A huge chunk of society is divorced. Does this figure include players divorced after retirement or sometime in their life before 2 years into retirement? I would guess at least half of the general population would describe themselves as financially distressed - depending on how that was presented, and I wouldn't be surprised if that were true for two-thirds or more of people who were let go from their job or took a huge pay cut during the last two years. People who have been divorced, are financially distressed or have a drug or alcohol dependency might not include three-fourths of the population, but I suspect it would include well over half. The number is horrible for our top athletes, but I don't think its as outrageouos as that initially sounds.

 

[Wingnut]

Seau's family suing NFL

The family of Junior Seau has sued the NFL, claiming the former linebacker's suicide was the result of brain disease caused by violent hits he sustained while playing football.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed Wednesday in California Superior Court in San Diego, blames the NFL for its "acts or omissions" that hid the dangers of repetitive blows to the head. It says Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from those hits, and accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries.

Seau died at age 43 of a self-inflicted gunshot in May. He was diagnosed with CTE, based on posthumous tests, earlier this month.

An Associated Press review in November found that more than 3,800 players have sued the NFL over head injuries in at least 175 cases as the concussion issue has gained attention in recent years. More than 100 of the concussion lawsuits have been brought together before U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia.

Helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc., also is being sued by the Seaus, who say Riddell was "negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets" used by NFL players. The suit says the helmets were unreasonably dangerous and unsafe.

Whole story here: http://www2.tbo.com/entertainment/bucs/2013/jan/23/junior-seaus-family-sues-nfl-over-brain-injuries-ar-614416/

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Are these people suing the NCAA as well?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Are these people suing the NCAA as well?

Or High school or Pee-Wee football

 

[Deamon]

Seau's family suing NFL

The family of Junior Seau has sued the NFL, claiming the former linebacker's suicide was the result of brain disease caused by violent hits he sustained while playing football.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed Wednesday in California Superior Court in San Diego, blames the NFL for its "acts or omissions" that hid the dangers of repetitive blows to the head. It says Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from those hits, and accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries.

Seau died at age 43 of a self-inflicted gunshot in May. He was diagnosed with CTE, based on posthumous tests, earlier this month.

An Associated Press review in November found that more than 3,800 players have sued the NFL over head injuries in at least 175 cases as the concussion issue has gained attention in recent years. More than 100 of the concussion lawsuits have been brought together before U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia.

Helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc., also is being sued by the Seaus, who say Riddell was "negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets" used by NFL players. The suit says the helmets were unreasonably dangerous and unsafe.

Whole story here: http://www2.tbo.com/entertainment/bucs/2013/jan/23/junior-seaus-family-sues-nfl-over-brain-injuries-ar-614416/

You can hate on Goodell all you want, and his decisions might not always seem the best, but when something like this happens, I feel bad for the guy being in such a lose-lose situation sometimes. We rag on him for penalties for hits to the head, for punishing hard on the "intent to injure", and for changing kickoffs to cut down on head injuries, but then someone goes and sues the nfl for not doing enough to prevent brain injuries. These people suing and those who support this would be up in arms if he HADN'T taken severe measures to make the game safer. Damned if you do, Damned if you don't.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Are these people suing the NCAA as well?

Or High school or Pee-Wee football

Totally agree.

 

[irish eyes]

Seau's family should be ashamed of themselves, nothing but money hungry jerks. I'm sure none of them minded spending the money Junior made while he was playing. I hope a judge has the sense to throw this out as a nuisance law suit. Freakin can't stand people like this.

 

[daveR]

Seau's family suing NFL

The family of Junior Seau has sued the NFL, claiming the former linebacker's suicide was the result of brain disease caused by violent hits he sustained while playing football.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed Wednesday in California Superior Court in San Diego, blames the NFL for its "acts or omissions" that hid the dangers of repetitive blows to the head. It says Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from those hits, and accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries.

Seau died at age 43 of a self-inflicted gunshot in May. He was diagnosed with CTE, based on posthumous tests, earlier this month.

An Associated Press review in November found that more than 3,800 players have sued the NFL over head injuries in at least 175 cases as the concussion issue has gained attention in recent years. More than 100 of the concussion lawsuits have been brought together before U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia.

Helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc., also is being sued by the Seaus, who say Riddell was "negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets" used by NFL players. The suit says the helmets were unreasonably dangerous and unsafe.

Whole story here: http://www2.tbo.com/entertainment/bucs/2013/jan/23/junior-seaus-family-sues-nfl-over-brain-injuries-ar-614416/

When is the last time someone sued the NFL and won?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Seau's family suing NFL

The family of Junior Seau has sued the NFL, claiming the former linebacker's suicide was the result of brain disease caused by violent hits he sustained while playing football.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed Wednesday in California Superior Court in San Diego, blames the NFL for its "acts or omissions" that hid the dangers of repetitive blows to the head. It says Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from those hits, and accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries.

Seau died at age 43 of a self-inflicted gunshot in May. He was diagnosed with CTE, based on posthumous tests, earlier this month.

An Associated Press review in November found that more than 3,800 players have sued the NFL over head injuries in at least 175 cases as the concussion issue has gained attention in recent years. More than 100 of the concussion lawsuits have been brought together before U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia.

Helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc., also is being sued by the Seaus, who say Riddell was "negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets" used by NFL players. The suit says the helmets were unreasonably dangerous and unsafe.

Whole story here: http://www2.tbo.com/entertainment/bucs/2013/jan/23/junior-seaus-family-sues-nfl-over-brain-injuries-ar-614416/

When is the last time someone sued the NFL and won?

USFL? 1 DOLLAR!

 

[cobalt_27]

For those concerned about the hysteria surrounding concussions, this is a reassuring insider tip on what the leading scientists in neuroscience are going to be saying about CTE when they release their consensus statement later this March or April.The 2012 Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport

The most controversial topic at the moment is the issue of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A group in Boston have observed abnormalities in the brains of deceased retired NFL players, some of which resemble CTE seen previously in professional boxers. There have been suggestions that there may be an increase in the incidence of this condition in retired NFL players and that this may be linked to multiple concussions. This has generated a lot of publicity and is a factor behind a law suit being taken out against the NFL by 4000 former players. The former NFL player (and wrestler) Chris Nowinski has been the spokesperson for this group and it has generated a huge amount of publicity. Probably as a result of this publicity the NFL have recently announced that they will donate up to $100 million over the next few years for research.As so often happens in these cases, much of what has been stated about this link is very premature. Whether the diagnosis of CTE and the suggested presence of other neurological diagnoses are more common in ex NFL players needs to be investigated. It is dangerously premature to draw this conclusion. If it is then shown to be more common, the causes need to be investigated. At this stage to say that it is related to multiple concussions is absolutely unproven. If it is somehow related to playing NFL there are a number of possible causative factors which require thorough investigation including multiple concussions, the amount of minor hits to the head (“sub concussive”) episodes, drugs and alcohol intake etc, so while this is an interesting area it is far too early to draw any of these conclusions. Unfortunately the media has got hold of this issue. We need to wait and see.