RIP Junior Seau

[PM Thor]

Preliminary reports saying he committed suicide as a result of multiple concussions and the aftermath. I did a triple take upon hearing this.

I HATE dayton.

[Porkopolis]

One of the best I have ever seen. So sad to see him go out that way.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Preliminary reports saying he committed suicide as a result of multiple concussions and the aftermath. I did a triple take upon hearing this.

I HATE dayton.

Isn't this somewhat similar to what happened with Chris Beniot? Except with the addition of mass amounts of steroids, he raged and killed his child and wife before killing himself. Pretty sure the autopsy on Benoit attributed his issues to multiple concussions as well....scary stuff.

RIP, Junior Seau.

[Pluto]

Dave Duerson shot himself in the chest and in his suicide note he stated he wanted his brain to be donated for concussion research

[PM Thor]

Seau is the 8th player from San Diegos '94 Super Bowl team to die. That is unbelievable to me.

I HATE dayton.

[RealDeal]

Wow, concussions, TBI and suicide among athletes and war veterans is at an all time high. He texted "love you" to his wife and kids before he did it. These people need help. So sad.

[smileyy]

Wow, concussions, TBI and suicide among...war veterans is at an all time high.

There's something we can do to fix that.

[smileyy]

Isn't this somewhat similar to what happened with Chris Beniot? Except with the addition of mass amounts of steroids, he raged and killed his child and wife before killing himself. Pretty sure the autopsy on Benoit attributed his issues to multiple concussions as well....scary stuff.

I'm not sure "rage" is the right word -- my understanding is that it was a homicidal despair, not anger. I don't think the effects of steroids were implicated at all. If anything, that narrative is a convenient scapegoat for pro wrestling and the NFL, to avoid having to deal with the natural consequences of those activities.

And yeah, his brain was pretty much swiss cheese (much like a lot of NFL players who have committed suicide) from concussions and diving headbutts.

The NFL would be a safer (but bloodier) place without pads and helmets.

[KC4X]

...
The NFL would be a safer (but bloodier) place without pads and helmets.

That's an interesting point. I wonder if the prevalence of concussions and the severity of post-career brain issues is comparable between football and rugby players. Concussions are definitely one of the most common (if not the most common) injuries for rugby players.

[boozehound]

That's an interesting point. I wonder if the prevalence of concussions and the severity of post-career brain issues is comparable between football and rugby players. Concussions are definitely one of the most common (if not the most common) injuries for rugby players.

I would wager that concussions for Rugby players happen far less frequently than football players. The main reason is the style of tackling. In Rugby you don't have some guy getting a 10 yard head start and running full steam into you using the top of his helmet like a missle. Rugby tackling is primarily about wrapping up and taking down, not hitting like in football. In college Rugby (I'm not sure about Pro Rugby) you could get a penalty called on you if you were running around head hunting without at least attemption to wrap and tackle.

You also don't have as much 'gang tackling' in Rugby due to the continuous play. If you take 4 guys to tackle the ball carrier that is an extra 3 guys who are not in position after the ruck is completed which can give the opposing team a major advantage.

Rugby players are probably more prone toward minor injuries due to the lack of protective gear, but football players are more susceptable to serious injury due to the violent nature of the hits.