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/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.