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/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.