Tom Nakashima's Blog

Sadly, this story has played out before.  But it never gets any easier.  Shock, sadness, disbelief, bewilderment.  Future Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau is gone, the victim of an apparent suicide, and there are so many questions yet to be answered.  But we know he is the latest in a disturbing number of football players who have taken their own lives.  Some have suggested that depression can be brought on by brain trauma associated with years of playing football. Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson said “he was not shocked” to hear of Seau’s death.  And sports agent Leigh Steinberg says that "while normally, speculation as to causation would be premature… these are not normal times."  He calls the long term effects of head injury a largely undiagnosed health epidemic.  What we do know is that Junior Seau, one of the most popular players in NFL history, must have seen no other way out.  And there are other players and former players who are feeling the same way.  Here’s hoping they get the help that they desperately need.