NFL great Seau found dead in home of suspected ...

Junior gave the term "hot dog" a new meaning. He was right up there with Pete Rose in that category. His football talent was above average, yes even HOF class.

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When's the NFL going to get serious about head injuries?

Head injuries may be a cause. If he used steroids, that might be a cause. The causes may be unrelated to football.

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A few thoughts. A suicide shot to the heart with no note left behind or anything? I wouldn't rule out the possibility of homicide, seriously. However, Marcellus Wiley said that Seau was never one to show his own pain/weakness. I won't pretend to know what went through his head during this time, but that would make sense if he had some serious personal demons locked inside. He made his choice, and so I won't call his death tragic (unless he had some genetically caused chemical imbalances in his brain that he could not help). What is tragic is that his legions of fans are now left with more questions than inspiration. He was a hero to many younger people, and he's obviously no longer the role-model type. I just hope that those who did consider him a hero don't put much thought into Seau's thoughts.

I don't think there is a suicide epidemic among former players. Fell free to point out errors in my math. In the NFL there are approximately 2500 players on the 32 teams' rosters including the players active in the off season when NFL teams can up their totals from 62 to 80. Not all teams expand to the full 80 though. If we just limit the number to players that made the 62 man roster then 62 X 32 = 1984 players are in the NFL. So the range of total players in the NFL each year is around 2000 to 2500. If there is 15% turnover each year then then that would mean 300 to 375 people become former NFL players each year. So in the last 25 years there have been 7500 to 9375 new former NFL players. Let's assume that the total number of former players at any one time is in this range (accounting for natural deaths, years before expansion, etc.). The CDC says for 2002-2006 the suicide rate for males ages 25-64 was 28 per 100,000. Using this rate, 2 to 2.6 former NFL players should commit suicide each year. I only know of three former player suicides in the last two years. Seau, Ray Easterling, and Dave Duerson. That seems to fit in with the rate in the general population

SissyBoy, I can appreciate your sympathy for Junior but being glad he found a way out of his pain and sadness by killing himself? Not sure glad is the term you may have been looking for but you know what you meant to say. My guess is this was something more organic then just missing football. Depression is a terrible illness and sometimes there seems no end to the depth of the symtoms it presents. It is an illness just like heart disease or cancer. Unfortunately the stigma associated with it can often keep people from seeking treatment. Killing yourself is a pretty drastic way to stop the symptoms. Anyone who has experienced depression with a family member or even themselves can relate to the pain it causes the person suffering and those around them dealing with the family member or friend.      

bdcaper. Great point. I was wondering what the suicide rate comparison between players and the general public was. Thanks for the info. Mental illness is something that does not discriminate among races, poor, rich, etc. athletes or intellectuals. No different then any other disease. 

As a USC fan, this is very sad.

Very very sad. As a football fan I will remember him as being such a great player. I know that he did alot of charity work as well. I have a feeling we will be learning wayyyy more about why this happenned in the weeks to come.On a side note I thought it was disgraceful the way the SD media asked his Mom questions yesterday. They seemed pretty disrespectful if you ask me.JMO.RIP Junior,you will be sorely missed.

@ - bdcaper



Expecting 2 to 2.6 and seeing three deaths sounds small, but that's actually a whopping  14% - 30% higher than the national average.

However, with such small sample sizes it can be misleading looking at % ...


Then again, the doctors talking about CTE and brain injury problems aren't just concerned about suicides.  I think the concern is also the increased mortality rate form other deaths, the increased memory problems, addiction problems, violence problems, depression problems....


There are a lot of health concerns related to CTE, suicide rates just being one of many.

to jmgil, head injuries & steroids are related to football!!

I don't think it's fair to blame the nfl for this! Nobody knows why he decided to end his life! It could be depression or even for financial reasons! The media needs to stop assuming this happened because of concussions. I'm tired of them trying to create stories. Let's wait until the people who are professionals and deal with this stuff everyday can come to a conclusion.

So MANY emotions....Thanks for the Sunday memories. I loved watching you play.love and hope to the family and friends you leave behind. Wish somebody could have seen it coming and helped! RIP #55

The day he picked up a helmet and played the game, he took a risk and was paid very well doing it. I don't want to sound insincered but it is what it is...RIP Seau. You will be remembered as the person who played the game the way it should be played. Hard, tough, smart, and you laid it on the line every snap for the fans.

First off, my condolences to the family. Secondly, to the NFL brass, I would suggest the following. For every player that was in the league, you should provide a yearly medical/psychological examination at the league expense. Look you all make way too much money not to fund a healthplan that would take care of such evaluations. Step up to the plate NFL. Don't make it part of a bargain, just do the right thing. Put the right thing ahead of the cash. Be an example on how to run an organization correctly and not let the game become bigger than another life.

I loved Junior's feist and competitiveness on the field, as well as off the field. He helped so many underprivileged kids and the community. What's truly sad is the one person he just let down big time is his mother. No man should ever do and conflict such pain on their mother. RIP, and truly hope he is forgiven for such an act. Same goes for his children. He just left them a mess. Sad.

@bdcaper  Good estimations.  The reality is there among the sadness.  Good point.

@vigilante man    Whopping 14%?  I guess a 0.6 of a suicide would have been possible?  idiot.

Not to disrespect the passing of a great player or anything (rip) but does anyone else think its a complete bs storyline given by his ex wife regarding concussions after all this speculation arose about it? Prefect timing to make this a huge case right? I actually thought murder right after I read about it being a gs wound to chest and then talking about his sustained concussions in the nfl being his reasoning?...