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Junior Seau Suicide Brings Tough Questions for NFL, College Football

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R.I.P. Junior.

bing of AL 8:36PM May 03, 2012

From a mom whose 24year old bi-polar son ended his life several years ago -- The heart break for survivors is real and expressed so very well in this article. My heart goes out to the family and Hopefully there is a local source of grief support for the family which can help tremendously.

DRW of CA 6:12PM May 03, 2012

kafantaris of OH
You bring race in as well. Then, physical difference between the races. I don’t have the statistics to make your assumptions and am sure YOU DON’T EITHER.
IS sad he is dead. Was sad when high school girls killed themselves. Even more sad, if possible, that a young white girl killed herself because of harassment.
WHAT we don’t need is speculation done so as to prop up one’s view of it. Better head gear and the like for football. NO PROBLEM...

Bill Hedges of MO 5:54PM May 03, 2012

Maybe Junior Seau was depressed when he took his life. With his fame, money and good looks it is hard for us to see what he would be depressed about.
It does seem reasonable that Junior’s depression came from the hundreds of concussion he sustained in his storied career. After all, when Dave Duerson took his own life he wanted his brain sent to the "NFL brain bank" for study.
And like Junior, Duerson was black -- as were two others last year with similar fate.
Could it be then that concussions are more severe on the brains of our black athletes?
Or is everyday life in our white man's world more severe on the psyche of our black athletes than we ever cared to wonder.

kafantaris of OH 2:52PM May 03, 2012

I GUESS I COULD waste my time reading Suzy Q's article but I WON'T. How has football been tied to this suicide OTHER THAN HE PLAYED FOOTBALL ? You can logical conclude that maybe, maybe, maybe THAT'S ALL FOLKS. Most suicides ARE NOT FOOTBALL PLAYERS. Nor is there statistics that most suicides have brain injuries.
I AM UNAWARE that boxers tend to kill themselves. They receive many hits to the head.
Is always good to seek the most safety. Yet there was argument to allow phone use while driving on this site.
I have heard of many young girls who tragically commit suicide. To my knowledge, NONE PLAYED FOOTBALL...

Bill Hedges of MO 2:22PM May 03, 2012

Ms Milligan, perhaps you are unaware of this but for several years now the NFL has been tightening up rules concerning player safety to try and cut down on hits to the head, particularly those that cause concussions. Obviously, this doesn't help retired players or anyone who has already suffered serious damage but hopefully will help football players at all levels down the road.

Scott of MN 1:34PM May 03, 2012