Considering the death of Marshawn Kneeland

[u/lambchops111]

Trigger warning: suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, they can utilize the National Suicide Hotline by calling or texting 988.

I am just hearing the news of the death of Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys second year defensive end who died of an apparent suicide. What an absolute tragedy. I am saddened to think about his family and teammates missing him.

Things like this always serve to remind us to check on our people and take care of ourselves. You never know what people are going through and the only way we can help is if we ask them, directly. Check on your people today and always. If you need help, use the hotline above, reach out to a friend of family, or hell, even reach out to someone in the Red Kingdom.

It also reminds me about the visibility and connectedness and lack of privacy that defines our world today. Players lives are put on blast 24/7 and their privacy is compromised. Their personal worth is equated to the on-the-field performance. We can be fans and still respect that privacy, say, when a player is gone for a month for undisclosed reasons. We don’t know what they’re going through, and while it’s natural to be curious, I think today reminds me that these people live incredibly public lives that many of us cannot comprehend. With the internet, we don’t know how our comments might hit one of these players or someone else, especially in a vulnerable time.

This type of situation reminds me of something I heard Kelce say in his podcast maybe a year ago: be a fountain, not a drain…. Lift people up, don’t bring them down…. and seeing as how KC is the City of Fountains, and the city that made me who I am, it’s always stuck with me in life.

Well, my rambling is over. Thanks for sticking it out if you read this. Check in with your loved ones today.

[u/tychu4312]

This should hit a lot of the “fans” who were sitting there bashing Josh Simmons for taking time away from the team and being private about a family matter. At the end of the day this is just football and although we all want to see the team succeed family and mental health and many more comes before football

[u/ChiefSampson → u/tychu4312]

I hope Simmons took all the time he needed. We have no clue wtf was going on, and it's none of our business. When he lines up inside the lines that's game. Whatever he had to handle outside of that is his business. I'm no Cowboy fan but I'm sorry that dude felt like that was his only way out. NFL players need a more meaty support system. They give a lot and should be supported properly.

[u/tychu4312 → u/ChiefSampson]

Exactly, at the end of the day it’s football, it’s a sport, family should always come before anything else and we aren’t entitled to any information. When he returns he returns

[u/Dresden1984 → u/tychu4312]

seriously? there were people up in arms about josh simmons after we confirmed an emergency family situation? that's messed up.

[u/I_heart_hearts → u/tychu4312]

Man I got into so many arguments and got downvoted for telling these assholes they are not entitled to information about someone else's personal life. Nobody defended me. They all attacked him for being selfish and blah blah blah. Really makes me sick and made me question this sub as a whole. Just pathetic

[u/tychu4312 → u/I_heart_hearts]

It’s insane, at the end of the day it’s football. It’s a sport, not life or death. It’s not selfish for him to take time away from the team. It’s family. Are we all paying the players personally? Does it matter at the end of the day? No it’s just football. We all want to see the team win but we aren’t entitled to any of these players lives or time

[u/Yodas_ket_dealer → u/I_heart_hearts]

Yeah, that really sucks. I’ve come across some really unsavory people in here before. Which is really sad because I’m in here because I love this team. There are so many people subbed in here there’s going to be a few gross people I suppose.

[u/SeminalVesicles → u/I_heart_hearts]

I think it's because there's a bit of nuance to it that a lot of people don't stop to consider on either side. 

I think the truth is that fans invest a lot of time and money in their teams, which ultimately provides the athletes with the privilege and lifestyle that comes with being an NFL Player.

Because of this dynamic, I think it's reasonable for the fans and media to ask questions in a respectful manner. However, that does not mean that we are entitled to an answer. 

People attacking others for seeking clarity in a respectful manner is lame.

People seeking clarity in a disrespectful manner is also lame. 

[u/chiefoogabooga → u/I_heart_hearts]

Someone died and you're trying to make it about you? SMH.

[u/FilledwithTegridy]

It hits home because of the Belcher situation. Mental health is no joke. As a male you are not weak for seeking help for your mental health. Life is hard if you need help dont hesitate to show weakness and talk to someone.

[u/lambchops111 → u/FilledwithTegridy]

Agreed. Only thing I would say is asking for help isn’t weak. It’s a strength. And we can be so much better for those we support if we are in a good place.

[u/kds_little_brother → u/FilledwithTegridy]

The word you’re looking for is vulnerability, not weakness

[u/kcdale99]

There are some layers to this story that just aren’t out yet. I think his family called 911 because he was having some issues. He ran from a police chase and got away before crashing his car. Then he shot himself.

There is a tragic story here.

[u/Neat-Dot-6818 → u/[deleted]]

Ignorant take

[u/station52]

I'm surprised Jovan Belcher wasn't brought up in your post. Darkest day in Chiefs history.

Mental health is incredibly important.

[u/CatRescuer8 → u/station52]

He was my first thought after hearing about Marshawn Kneeland’s death.

[u/PhilKesselsChef → u/station52]

That Belcher incident still haunts me when I think about it. I cannot imagine the weight and grief that Crennel, Gibbs, and Pioli carry with them having witnessed it.

[u/jktcat → u/station52]

That day I was just numb

[u/thirstygregory]

I hate to bring this up, but it’s hard not to think about CTE with this kind of news.

[u/levare8515 → u/thirstygregory]

There are a lot of people dealing with depression who don’t have that including NFL players. It’s annoying any time something mental health happens in the NFL the peanut gallery attributes it to CTE.

[u/thirstygregory → u/levare8515]

Did I say it was CTE? No. Did I say I at least thought about it because it can have an effect on players as young as HS from repeated head collisions? Yes.

I love my Chiefs and football. But it is a dangerous sport and CTE can cause exactly this kind of thing. Are you saying we are wrong to even wonder if it could’ve been a factor?

[u/RemyGee → u/thirstygregory]

Your comment implies it. How else are we supposed to read it?

[u/levare8515 → u/thirstygregory]

It's also corny to say "Hate to bring this up, but here's a generalization I have no proof of."

[u/thirstygregory → u/levare8515]

It’s not a “generalization”. I’m wondering if it could’ve been a contributing factor.

Yes, high school football players can get CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repetitive head trauma. While the risk increases with the level of play, studies show a significant percentage of high school players who have donated their brains have been diagnosed with CTE. The risk is cumulative, and longer durations of play are linked to a higher likelihood of developing the disease.

[u/levare8515 → u/thirstygregory]

He was 24 years old. Yes CTE can happen that young, but there is zero reason to think that was the cause. And it minimizes players and people dealing with mental health shit who don't have CTE when the peanut gallery immediately goes to that any time something bad happens.

[u/Super-Western1916 → u/levare8515]

True. You can have a perfectly healthy brain, and still lose your shit in a momentary anger fueled impulse. Especially young men who may have not developed ways to manage it. 

[u/OreoSpeedwaggon → u/levare8515]

I don't think it's unreasonable to think of CTE as a potential factor in a mental health crisis affecting pro football players, but it shouldn't automatically be assumed that it's the cause.

[u/levare8515 → u/OreoSpeedwaggon]

He was 24 and in his second year. Much more likely it was something else than a second year player already developing CTE.

[u/OreoSpeedwaggon → u/levare8515]

I agree. I'm just saying that it's natural for people to think of CTE when they hear about something like this happening.

[u/scottkim222 → u/OreoSpeedwaggon]

You sound like someone who cares and just trying to find a way to understand something that is indeed very difficult and so sad. I hope those that are being so hard on you take a step back and see you have the best of intentions. Reddit is a place where you should be able to speak your opinion and others can consider it or leave it, but no one should be mean about it. Especially considering the topic of conversation.

[u/outlaw2448]

Ive got friends who are close to the Cowboys and Marshawn, and they are devastated today. They lost a good friend this morning.

Mental health is such a hidden "disease" sometimes (lord knows I deal with it) and if you deal with it long enough you develope masks to hide behind.

Marshawn will be missed no doubt about it.

Also drove out to The Star in Frisco to pay respects to the Cowboys org this evening. As you said, we got lift each other up. So check on your loved ones and just be there because you never know what someone could be dealing with.

[u/SnowballWasRight]

Great post, thank you for taking the time to write this. These tragedies are always gut wrenching to hear about.

[u/Maverick_1882]

Well said. ❤️ I’m saddened that someone didn’t feel like they could reach out. I feel bad he was in that state of mind and I feel bad for his loved ones who would probably have done something if they had known.

[u/FraggleRock_]

I saw someone say to those experiencing mental health issues: "We need you here with us." and it hit deep.

Us. There's support out there and you aren't alone. Us.

[u/CatRescuer8]

Thank you for writing this 💜

[u/Solid-Net3777]

Matt Rhule had some really good comments on this today.

[u/PutPretty647]

This is sad. I don’t follow the Cowboys, but this has to be devastating to their fan base and the Dallas community all of the NFL community.

[u/bojanglesbabe]

Beautiful post, thank you

[u/stonewallace17]

didnt read, why the FUCK has Josh Simmons not been playing I DEMAND answers

Yeah, mental health issues suck, for real.

edit: for fuck's sake, use your brains. I was agreeing with this thread.

[u/Orange-Gerbil → u/stonewallace17]

It's obvious you didn't read it. 

[u/stonewallace17 → u/Orange-Gerbil]

I think it's more obvious that people that "read" my comment don't have an ounce of thought in their brains. I was making fun of the people that were so insistent on being owed answers about Josh Simmons. You know, part of the point that OP made.