There’s Something Missing From the Everson Griffen Story

Its a fair question but maybe its a bit premature. Sometimes, its just mental illness on its own without any kind of football related head trauma. I guess its hard to know definitively. 

Speculation is only normal...

Of course everyone is thinking it could be CTE related. But for the press to publicly try to diagnose/speculate on whether its CTE or Bi-Polar etc. would be reckless and insensitive imo. 

Hmmm...last year Bennett Omalu said that he had seen evidence of CTE in Fred McNiell before he died. It would be a huge turning point if CTE could be reliably detected in living tissue.

And the mysterious walking-on-the-highway death of Griffen's teammate Ellison a couple days ago adds even more creepiness to this. Ellison's brain has been donated to research, so it'll be interesting to see what comes of that. I fear that CTE is where this could be headed. 

Maybe, but this is not a new topic of discussion, just one thst the NFL does not want to have & wont

CTE found in 99% of studied brains from deceased NFL players
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/07/25/health/cte-nfl-players-brains-study/index.html

& yhsts just the NFL, there are many stories of college players too
When they commit suicide, some opt to shoot themselves in the chest sp thrir brains can be studied

If anyone enjoys podcasts, this is a good one

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968?mt=2&i=1000412178526

Here is a non apple link

http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/22-burden-of-proof

99% of brains donated to science for study vs 99% of deceased players brains...Potentially a significant difference. 

That said, I personally believe CTE is a huge problem, the league is well aware of it and the march towards flag football is full on and the game will never be like it was. 

Maybe thats for the better in regards to players lives...

We do not know what caused EG's mental breakdown. It might be football/CTE or an organic chemical imbalance in the brain or something else or all of the above.  I don't know. But I know this: neither does the author of the article. 
He admits that at first, then ignores his admission: "I’m obviously not a doctor, but the reported details of Griffen’s breakdown are awfully consistent with other football players who have experienced serious mental health episodes as a result of experiencing severe brain trauma on the field." He should have stopped with "I'm obviously not a doctor."  I would agree with him there.
Is bizarre behavior caused by X always unique to X? Might it be similar to bizarre behavior caused by Y?  If CTE were diagnosable by its bizarre behavior, scientists would not have to biopsy the brain to say that the person suffered from CTE. They could tell by his bizarre behavior.
Maybe EG's mental breakdown is unrelated to football.  And maybe EG should never play football again.  The two statements are not inconsistent. 
The author is completely unqualified to make life-altering decisions for someone he does not know. Yet he is perfectly willing to do it.  What an idiot.  Let the people trained in this area, who are actually treating EG, make their recommendations. Not some random sports writer. 

@"dadevike" said: We do not know what caused EG's mental breakdown. It might be football/CTE or an organic chemical imbalance in the brain or something else or all of the above.  I don't know. But I know this: neither does the author of the article.  He admits that at first, then ignores his admission: "I’m obviously not a doctor, but the reported details of Griffen’s breakdown are awfully consistent with other football players who have experienced serious mental health episodes as a result of experiencing severe brain trauma on the field." He should have stopped with "I'm obviously not a doctor."  I would agree with him there. Is bizarre behavior caused by X always unique to X? Might it be similar to bizarre behavior caused by Y?  If CTE were diagnosable by its bizarre behavior, scientists would not have to biopsy the brain to say that the person suffered from CTE. They could tell by his bizarre behavior. Maybe EG's mental breakdown is unrelated to football.  And maybe EG should never play football again.  The two statements are not inconsistent.  The author is completely unqualified to make life-altering decisions for someone he does not know. Yet he is perfectly willing to do it.  What an idiot.  Let the people trained in this area, who are actually treating EG, make their recommendations. Not some random sports writer. 

Of course no one knows...right now
Thankfully he is getting the best possible help possible

The author is right that it is not going to be talked about on any pregame shows 

@"Maple Surple" said:

@"dadevike" said: We do not know what caused EG's mental breakdown. It might be football/CTE or an organic chemical imbalance in the brain or something else or all of the above.  I don't know. But I know this: neither does the author of the article.  He admits that at first, then ignores his admission: "I’m obviously not a doctor, but the reported details of Griffen’s breakdown are awfully consistent with other football players who have experienced serious mental health episodes as a result of experiencing severe brain trauma on the field." He should have stopped with "I'm obviously not a doctor."  I would agree with him there. Is bizarre behavior caused by X always unique to X? Might it be similar to bizarre behavior caused by Y?  If CTE were diagnosable by its bizarre behavior, scientists would not have to biopsy the brain to say that the person suffered from CTE. They could tell by his bizarre behavior. Maybe EG's mental breakdown is unrelated to football.  And maybe EG should never play football again.  The two statements are not inconsistent.  The author is completely unqualified to make life-altering decisions for someone he does not know. Yet he is perfectly willing to do it.  What an idiot.  Let the people trained in this area, who are actually treating EG, make their recommendations. Not some random sports writer. 

He is not personally wanting to do brain surgery on him, he is commenting, like you just did

Of course no one knows...right now
Thankfully he is getting the best possible help possible

The author is right that it is not going to be talked about on any pregame shows 

People have mental breakdowns every day that have never played a contact sport.  This whole article is speculation because the cause of Griffen's problem is known by only a few, which is the way it should be. 

I'm not sure if we'll ever know what was behind this, that's fine too in my opinion.  It is a personal health issue plain and simple and it's really none of our business.

@"1VikesFan" said: People have mental breakdowns every day that have never played a contact sport.  This whole article is speculation because the cause of Griffen's problem is known by only a few, which is the way it should be. 

I'm not sure if we'll ever know what was behind this, that's fine too in my opinion.  It is a personal health issue plain and simple and it's really none of our business.

@"Maple Surple" said:

@"1VikesFan" said: People have mental breakdowns every day that have never played a contact sport.  This whole article is speculation because the cause of Griffen's problem is known by only a few, which is the way it should be. 

I'm not sure if we'll ever know what was behind this, that's fine too in my opinion.  It is a personal health issue plain and simple and it's really none of our business.

Players walk of the field healthy everyday, some very healthy, not the point
& you are saying we can talk about a players groin, but not their brain ?

It certainly could be football related. The guy played alot of football before his 9 years in the NFL.
I think it is important  to know now. If it is football related it would be highly advisable for him to never put the helmet on again and run full speed into another huge man. That would not be good news for the team. Can they tell yet if it's CTE in living subjects yet?  I would say if they can't determine the cause I would advise him to avoid anymore brain trauma. That means retirement.

@"purplefaithful" said: 99% of brains donated to science for study vs 99% of deceased players brains...Potentially a significant difference. 

That said, I personally believe CTE is a huge problem, the league is well aware of it and the march towards flag football is full on and the game will never be like it was. 

Maybe thats for the better in regards to players lives...

@"1VikesFan" said:

@"Maple Surple" said:

@"1VikesFan" said: It's no different that you or I having health issues, it's nobody's business but our own, our doctors and anyone else we chose to inform.

@"Maple Surple" said:

@"1VikesFan" said:

@"Maple Surple" said:

@"1VikesFan" said: It's no different that you or I having health issues, it's nobody's business but our own, our doctors and anyone else we chose to inform.

“ It's no different that you or I having health issues, it's nobody's business but our own, our doctors and anyone else we chose to inform.”   I thnk thas a direct quote from Belichick  ;)

There are even studies ( I know, I know, you don’t approve of looking into the cause of injuries ) that show that concussions can be caused by body hits too, the head snaps back & forth causing damage. Im just of the belief that the search of knowledge is not a bad thing & not talking about something does not help & the NFL sadly & obviously dont want this discussion either
 Yes you can be genetically disposed to sudden mental illness, but why not look into it & discuss the possibility of a corelation ?
I’m reading the Ben Utecht ( Minnesota native ) book he wrote to his family & he too would agree that football related head injuries are a real thing

Alright Im done, have a great weekend everbody & enjoy life !
& if you go motor cycling, wear a helmet !

I don't remember the specifics, but Griffen had a lot of issues coming out of college, it's why he slipped in the draft and he also took a while to become a good player/person. 

Looking back, he was arrested after being drafted by the vikings, running from the police. 

@"NorthwestNorseman" said: I don't remember the specifics, but Griffen had a lot of issues coming out of college, it's why he slipped in the draft and he also took a while to become a good player/person. 

@"StickyBun" said:

@"NorthwestNorseman" said: I don't remember the specifics, but Griffen had a lot of issues coming out of college, it's why he slipped in the draft and he also took a while to become a good player/person. 

He's been fighting some demons for awhile, JMO but its not football head injury related. The latest rumors are that he may indeed be back playing football at some point this season. 

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"NorthwestNorseman" said: I don't remember the specifics, but Griffen had a lot of issues coming out of college, it's why he slipped in the draft and he also took a while to become a good player/person. 

He's been fighting some demons for awhile, JMO but its not football head injury related. The latest rumors are that he may indeed be back playing football at some point this season. 

Imo his issues back then we're more maturity related that  mental problems.  Big talented kid that was likley always getting a pass for his bull shit needed some harsh reality to wake his ass up and he got it after that incident with the cops his rookie year.