Former Chiefs' RB Larry Johnson Believes He Has CTE

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[Captain Murica]

Damn you Herm Edwards... 

[jrober38]

Most former NFL players have CTE. 

 

Humans aren't meant to play football. 

[BuffaloButt]

It's sad for these guys!  However, I'll bet that none of them would trade their careers and money they have made even if they knew the consequences of getting CTE could happen.

The NFL must have legal that they are playing at their own risk and and it's the players liability.

[Rc2catch]

If anyone would get it he would be the guy for sure. Talk about a punishing running back who was extremely overworked in his prime years 

[BuffaloBill]

39 minutes ago, BuffaloButt said:

It's sad for these guys!  However, I'll bet that none of them would trade their careers and money they have made even if they knew the consequences of getting CTE could happen.

The NFL must have legal that they are playing at their own risk and and it's the players liability.

 

 

I’ll bet there is more than one guy questioning whether the trade off is worth it.  These guys have kids and lives.  Many of the individuals afflicted may also not have made that much money from their NFL careers.  We tend to think of all of them as getting rich from playing but many do not.  

[RoyBatty is alive]

Not surprised the way he played, man ran rel real hard, he gave it his all, he was the best back in the league imo for a few years, the wear and tear just caught up to him.  

[rodneykm]

58 minutes ago, jrober38 said:

Most former NFL players have CTE. 

 

Humans aren't meant to play football. 

 

The NFL as we know it today will not exist in the next 20 to 30 years - if at all. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 minute ago, rodneykm said:

 

The NFL as we know it today will not exist in the next 20 to 30 years - if at all. 

Totally agree, but I dont think it will take anywhere as long as 30 years.

 

The NFL is dying on many levels.

 

Just wait when a class action lawsuit is filed on behalf of former college football players against their universities.

[zow2]

4 minutes ago, rodneykm said:

 

The NFL as we know it today will not exist in the next 20 to 30 years - if at all. 

 

yeah. it will exist but there will be some major changes.  More and more people are suggesting that kids don't start tackling until 14 - 15 yrs old.  And then not even in practice. 

 

Edited December 13, 2017 by zow2

[jrober38]

1 minute ago, rodneykm said:

 

The NFL as we know it today will not exist in the next 20 to 30 years - if at all. 

 

I think it'll take about 50 years. 

 

I figure a lot of people who are just starting to have kids now will be the first generation to really hold their kids back from playing football. That decision will be felt in 20 or so years. Then that generation does the same thing, I think the league will be on really unstable ground.

 

When you think about how much was learned about head injuries over the past 10 years, it'll be crazy to imagine anyone playing in 50 years once you imagine how much more they'll know about the effects of playing football.

 

Think about tobacco. A lot of the science behind the effects of smoking came out in the 60s. In the 60s, about 42% of Americans smoked. Now, only about 16% smoke which is a decrease of about 60%.

 

If that happens to NFL participation over a 50 year span, the NFL is finished.

[RoyBatty is alive]

9 minutes ago, jrober38 said:

 

I think it'll take about 50 years. 

 

I figure a lot of people who are just starting to have kids now will be the first generation to really hold their kids back from playing football. That decision will be felt in 20 or so years. Then that generation does the same thing, I think the league will be on really unstable ground.

 

When you think about how much was learned about head injuries over the past 10 years, it'll be crazy to imagine anyone playing in 50 years once you imagine how much more they'll know about the effects of playing football.

 

Think about tobacco. A lot of the science behind the effects of smoking came out in the 60s. In the 60s, about 42% of Americans smoked. Now, only about 16% smoke which is a decrease of about 60%.

 

If that happens to NFL participation over a 50 year span, the NFL is finished.

I am in high school football crazy Texas.  10 years ago there was maybe one parent I knew that wouldn't let their kid play football and they were very quiet about it not to be scorned, now it is about half and some are reticent to admit they do let their kids play.

 

It is coming quicker than people realize.

 

Watch some states outlaw football on the high school level or at least deny state/municipal funding, probably starts in Mass, NY or Conn.

 

NFL has clearly peaked, no doubt about it.  Just wait for next year season tickets sales and see how crowded some of these stadiums are.

Edited December 13, 2017 by RoyBatty is alive

[jrober38]

5 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

I am in high school football crazy Texas.  10 years ago there was maybe one parent I knew that wouldn't let their kid play football and they were very quiet about it not to be scorned, now it is about half and some are reticent to admit they do let their kids play.

 

It is coming quicker than people realize

 

It's a generation thing. I imagine a good chunk of parents will hold their kids out now, which will water down the sport in 15-20 years. These are probably parents who have kids under the age of 10.  Once a kid gets to the age of 10+, you can probably tell who the elite athletes are and the dream of making it to the NFL becomes a fantasy a lot of parents want to see their kids try and live. 

 

The parallels between tobacco and football are very real. You have an industry that did nothing but deny, deny, deny for years, and when the science became impossible to ignore, the industry experienced a steady decline. Tobacco went through this for the past 50 years, and the NFL just began their decline about 5 years ago. 

 

If NFL participation drops by 50%, as you have a generation of players from the 90s and 2000s dying in their 40s and 50s, at some point parents are going to stand up in mass and say enough is enough, let's play basketball, let's play soccer, let's play baseball. Let's play anything where my decision to let my son participate doesn't directly lead to them having severe brain trauma. 

Edited December 13, 2017 by jrober38

[RoyBatty is alive]

12 minutes ago, jrober38 said:

 

It's a generation thing. I imagine a good chunk of parents will hold their kids out now, which will water down the sport in 15-20 years. These are probably parents who have kids under the age of 10.  Once a kid gets to the age of 10+, you can probably tell who the elite athletes are and the dream of making it to the NFL becomes a fantasy a lot of parents want to see their kids try and live. 

 

The parallels between tobacco and football are very real. You have an industry that did nothing but deny, deny, deny for years, and when the science became impossible to ignore, the industry experienced a steady decline. Tobacco went through this for the past 50 years, and the NFL just began their decline about 5 years ago. 

 

If NFL participation drops by 50%, as you have a generation of players from the 90s and 2000s dying in their 40s and 50s, at some point parents are going to stand up in mass and say enough is enough, let's play basketball, let's play soccer, let's play baseball. Let's play anything where my decision to let my son participate doesn't directly lead to them having severe brain trauma. 

Participation is just one factor.

 

NFL is losing its appeal on many levels. I think you will really notice it next year when people dont renew season tickets, many are showing up for games this year they have a;leady paid for. TV ratings way down 2nd yr in a row.

 

Games suck, if you dont have a franchise QB you have  close to zero chance, way too many penalties, way too many games decided by refs, absurd rules like what is a catch, too many commercials, NFL clearly over saturated (this will be it for Thursday might football), then on top of all that  you have the anthem thing.

 

Also waiting on more lawsuits, lawsuits at the college and even high school level eventually, just too much $ involved.  Then you will have politicians getting involved and saving our childern not funding or outlawing football on the high school and college level.

 

Game is we know it is doomed it my opinion, great ready for touch football.

[jrober38]

Just now, RoyBatty is alive said:

Participation is just one factor.

 

NFL is losing its appeal on many levels. I think you will really notice it next year when people dont renew season tickets, many are showing up for games this year they have a;leady paid for. TV ratings way down 2nd yr in a row.

 

Games suck, if you dont have a franchise QB you have  close to zero chance, way too many penalties, way too many games decided by refs, absurd rules like what is a catch, too many commercials, NFL clearly over saturated (this will be it for Thursday might football), then on top of all that  you have the anthem thing.

 

Also waiting on more lawsuits, lawsuits at the college and even high school level eventually, just too much $ involved.  Then you will have politicians getting involved and saving our childern not funding or outlawing football on the high school and college level.

 

Game is we know it is doomed it my opinion, great ready for touch football.

I agree.

Aside from the Bills games I can't watch the NFL anymore. Too many penalties, too many pauses, too many commercials, too much time commitment, not enough quality from the product. 

 

My NFL viewership has steadily declined over the past 7 years and will likely continue to do so. I have family season tickets and I usually go to 4-5 games a year. This year I went to 2. My interest just isn't where it used to be. 

[Wayne Arnold]

4 hours ago, jrober38 said:

Most former NFL players have CTE. 

 

Humans aren't meant to play football. 

 

Certainly not in the way it is currently played.

 

Running backs shouldn't play in the NFL longer than two or three full-time seasons. These guys playing into their 30's are insane.

[Ol Dirty B]

As long as America has a poverty problem, we will have a football problem. People talk about kids being held out and this and that, sure that happens. Most of those parents are white, affluent parents. They aren't producing kids with the combination of talent and desperation that creates a lot of the prospects out of the South imo.

 

And this is not to sweep it under the rug, I think it's a real problem. However, their are a lot of people who will look the other way if they think their kid is good enough to do it. And a lot of adults will look the other way if they think they can buy their mom a new house, or find life changing wealth. Listen to Mike Mitchell last week. 

Larry Johnson seems like a nut job. I'm not doubting the existence of CTE, but he comes across as a guy who doesn't want to be held accountable for his actions and someone put this excuse in his head. He's been arrested six times, and it was happening while he was playing. It's awful, and probably wrong to an extent, but I just have a hard time believing someone who has been arrested as much as he has for what he has. It's just has a convenience to it, that this can be all explained away due to CTE. I'm failing at articulating my point well because it is a difficult line to walk. I don't want to come across as someone who doesn't believe in CTE, I just think when you get a guy like Larry Johnson saying all of this stuff, I start to question Larry Johnson's motives. 

Edited December 14, 2017 by Ol Dirty B

[Mr. WEO]

5 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

 

 

I’ll bet there is more than one guy questioning whether the trade off is worth it.  These guys have kids and lives.  Many of the individuals afflicted may also not have made that much money from their NFL careers.  We tend to think of all of them as getting rich from playing but many do not.  

 

Every single player makes this calculation every week and off season. with almost zero exceptions each year, they enthusiastically choose to continue playing.

[GaryPinC]

Jim worked at a biotech company I joined in Cleveland.  7 years NFL linebacker.  MD, JD.  Bright, nice guy, needless to say.  61 years old and still successful.  Does he have CTE?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Kovach

[Mr. WEO]

4 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

Jim worked at a biotech company I joined in Cleveland.  7 years NFL linebacker.  MD, JD.  Bright, nice guy, needless to say.  61 years old and still successful.  Does he have CTE?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Kovach

 

 

I bet his brain biopsy, right now, would confirm the same tau proteins all of the other brains have shown.

 

The problem is that so few of the former players develop an actual neurological disease to be matched to a physical finding.

Edited December 14, 2017 by Mr. WEO

[jrober38]

6 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

Jim worked at a biotech company I joined in Cleveland.  7 years NFL linebacker.  MD, JD.  Bright, nice guy, needless to say.  61 years old and still successful.  Does he have CTE?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Kovach

 

There are 4 stages of CTE. 

 

People with stage 1 show no symptoms. 

[YoloinOhio]

His dad is a hell of a DL coach

[Buffalo716]

5 hours ago, jrober38 said:

 

I think it'll take about 50 years. 

 

I figure a lot of people who are just starting to have kids now will be the first generation to really hold their kids back from playing football. That decision will be felt in 20 or so years. Then that generation does the same thing, I think the league will be on really unstable ground.

 

When you think about how much was learned about head injuries over the past 10 years, it'll be crazy to imagine anyone playing in 50 years once you imagine how much more they'll know about the effects of playing football.

 

Think about tobacco. A lot of the science behind the effects of smoking came out in the 60s. In the 60s, about 42% of Americans smoked. Now, only about 16% smoke which is a decrease of about 60%.

 

If that happens to NFL participation over a 50 year span, the NFL is finished.

 

That will never happen in the inner city...

 

football and basketball are their way out of the ghetto.

 

kids will always grow up and dream of playing college ball and making it to the league 

 

they don't care about CTE

 

and college football is KING in he south

Edited December 14, 2017 by Buffalo716

[BillsFan130]

Crazy story

[jrober38]

Just now, Buffalo716 said:

 

That will never happen in the inner city...

 

football and basketball are their way out of the ghetto.

 

kids will always grow up and dream of playing college and making it to the league 

 

they don't care about CTE

 

and college football is KING in he south

 

Things will change over time.

 

At some point kids and parents will say, I'm not going to play the sport that will give me lasting brain damage and shorten my life. I'll try something else. 

[Doc Brown]

If I was the NFL I would be putting a ton of their profits into CTE research if you want the league to survive long term.  Early detection and effective treatments will be key.

[Buffalo716]

This is sad to hear about Larry. He was a boss.

 

unfortunately I suspect that the majority of high level football players have head trauma or CTE

 

i lost my collegiate career because of concussions and know what constant head trauma can do 

 

depression, migraines, mood swings, anger , confusion.

 

I am definitely going to donate my brain when I pass because I would like my family to know if there is any trauma or CTE which I suspect 

[jrober38]

11 minutes ago, billsfan11 said:

Crazy story

 

Not really. Approximately 90% of all football players test positive for CTE. 

 

What's scary, is that Larry Johnson is only 38 years old and this is a degenerative disease that will get worse over time. 

Edited December 14, 2017 by jrober38

[BillsFan130]

3 minutes ago, jrober38 said:

 

Not really. Approximately 90% of all football players test positive for CTE. 

 

What's scary, is that Larry Johnson is only 38 years old and this is a degenerative disease that will get worse over time. 

I understand CTE is very common with football players, but its still crazy to hear what he has to deal with every single day

[jrober38]

4 minutes ago, billsfan11 said:

I understand CTE is very common with football players, but its still crazy to hear what he has to deal with every single day

 

And it's only going to get worse for him. As he prophesizes, he probably won't know his own name when he's 50. 

These stories are going to become more and more common as players from the 90s and 2000s begin to die in their 40s and 50s. 

 

As more and more of these stories surface, football participation will inevitably decline. 

Edited December 14, 2017 by jrober38

[BillsFan130]

9 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

This is sad to hear about Larry. He was a boss.

 

unfortunately I suspect that the majority of high level football players have head trauma or CTE

 

i lost my collegiate career because of concussions and know what constant head trauma can do 

 

depression, migraines, mood swings, anger , confusion.

 

I am definitely going to donate my brain when I pass because I would like my family to know if there is any trauma or CTE which I suspect 

Sorry to hear buddy! Hope things improve for you

1 minute ago, jrober38 said:

 

And it's only going to get worse for him. As he prophesizes, he probably won't know his own name when he's 50. 

These stories are going to become more and more common as players from the 90s and 2000s begin to die in their 40s and 50s. 

 

As more and more of these stories surface, football participation will inevitably decline. 

Ya that's really scary.

 

I really paid attention to the Aaron Hernandez story all the way to his death.

 

After reading about him being diagnosed with stage 4 CTE, I really wonder how much that influenced his psychotic behaviour. (Obviously still no excuse to kill people)

[CommonCents]

1 minute ago, jrober38 said:

 

And it's only going to get worse for him. As he prophesizes, he probably won't know his own name when he's 50. 

These stories are going to become more and more common as players from the 90s and 2000s begin to die in their 40s and 50s. 

Speaking in definitive terms about something that is in the elementary stages of discovery is sloppy. Do I think football is healthy for the long term well being? No. Does anyone know the direct impact of football yet? No.

 

Larry Johnson won't know his name by 50 but yet many NFL players do know their own name, and everyone else's in the NFL. Is anyone going to argue Larry Johnson had more repeated head trauma than Chris Spielman?

 

How about we stop taking what one player proposes as gospel and we wait until there is more information available. 

[jrober38]

4 minutes ago, billsfan11 said:

Ya that's really scary.

 

I really paid attention to the Aaron Hernandez story all the way to his death.

 

After reading about him being diagnosed with stage 4 CTE, I really wonder how much that influenced his psychotic behaviour. (Obviously still no excuse to kill people)

 

It makes you wonder about tons of young NFL players. Think of all the guys who cite depression as the reason they act out and fail drug tests due to smoking marijuana. Maybe it's not all their fault. 

 

Chris Henry the former Bengals WR had CTE. He had numerous off the field issues.

 

Aaron Hernandez had one of the worst cases of CTE for someone his age. Everyone knows his story. 

 

Josh Gordon has been a mess off the field. What if he has it?

 

Marcel Dareus? Considering the position he plays and his style, would anyone doubt him having it?

 

When 90% of the people studied have CTE, it really makes you wonder how much it affects some of the NFLs players who have had constant off the field behavioural issues. 

[Buffalo716]

6 minutes ago, billsfan11 said:

Sorry to hear buddy! Hope things improve for you

Ya that's really scary.

 

I really paid attention to the Aaron Hernandez story all the way to his death.

 

After reading about him being diagnosed with stage 4 CTE, I really wonder how much that influenced his psychotic behaviour. (Obviously still no excuse to kill people)

 

Thanks bud

 

Those days were long enough in the past and my concussion problems have gotten better as time goes on

 

when I was 20 and was no longer medically cleared to play collegiality because of 8+ concussions I was devastated and angry

 

but I also was messed up because the concussions 

 

it took me years to see that

[jrober38]

3 minutes ago, Commonsense said:

Speaking in definitive terms about something that is in the elementary stages of discovery is sloppy. Do I think football is healthy for the long term well being? No. Does anyone know the direct impact of football yet? No.

 

Larry Johnson won't know his name by 50 but yet many NFL players do know their own name, and everyone else's in the NFL. Is anyone going to argue Larry Johnson had more repeated head trauma than Chris Spielman?

 

How about we stop taking what one player proposes as gospel and we wait until there is more information available. 

 

What are you talking about? CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head, which is a direct result of playing football. 

 

The symptoms vary for people diagnosed with CTE. Some display no symptoms, and some have brains that don't properly function by the time they're 30 years old. It's not a one size fits all thing. 

Edited December 14, 2017 by jrober38

[BillsFan130]

4 minutes ago, jrober38 said:

 

It makes you wonder about tons of young NFL players. Think of all the guys who cite depression as the reason they act out and fail drug tests due to smoking marijuana. Maybe it's not all their fault. 

 

Chris Henry the former Bengals WR had CTE. He had numerous off the field issues.

 

Aaron Hernandez had one of the worst cases of CTE for someone his age. Everyone knows his story. 

 

Josh Gordon has been a mess off the field. What if he has it?

 

Marcel Dareus? Considering the position he plays and his style, would anyone doubt him having it?

 

When 90% of the people studied have CTE, it really makes you wonder how much it affects some of the NFLs players who have had constant off the field behavioural issues. 

Ya you make all good points

[jr1]

all these guys were too cool to wear external padding like Kelso 

[BillsFan130]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

 

Thanks bud

 

Those days were long enough in the past and my concussion problems have gotten better as time goes on

 

when I was 20 and was no longer medically cleared to play collegiality because of 8+ concussions I was devastated and angry

 

but I also was messed up because the concussions 

 

it took me years to see that

Good to hear sir! 

[CommonCents]

9 minutes ago, jrober38 said:

 

What are you talking about? CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head, which is a direct result of playing football. 

 

The symptoms vary for people diagnosed with CTE. Some display no symptoms, and some have brains that don't properly function by the time they're 30 years old. It's not a one size fits all thing. 

Oh yikes. Just two months ago a group was reported to be able to diagnose CTE in living humans yet you already know so much.

 

perhaps they will perform their due diligence and take into account PED's, narcotics, the repeated trauma, and come to a more definitive conclusion in say...the next decade. 

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

8 hours ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Thanks for sharing. That is one frightening story. I fear the worst will happen. Hoping that he is able to find his way through the maze. Very sad.