2007 Colts third-round defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock suddenly retired before his second season, citing vague personal issues, never to be heard from again until he turned up in Seattle on Wednesday as the newest member of the Seahawks.
The question had to be asked: Why did he leave the game two years ago?
Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that Pitcock struggled with depression, using video games as an outlet. He eventually sought treatment for an addiction to video games in addition to his depression.
“I left quietly and I’d like to come in quietly and just show what I can accomplish with the team,” Pitcock said.
I was going to start this post with a too-easy glib crack about Madden ’11, but decided not to be a jackass for once. I’ve seen inside my family what depression can do and know how hard it must have been for Pitcock to lose his career, recover, and now fight to get it back.
We wish him all the best of luck.
(Hat tip to Brad Wells of StampedeBlue for passing the story along.)
Passing this story along? Do you mean that you linked it from his website? Rather than post something meaningful from NFL training camps, you post this nonsense?
Wonder if Pitcock’s ever been in a COCKPIT?
(“cockpit” = slang for any of Florio’s orifices)
“Pitcock” — isn’t that the breed of dog Michael Vick favored? Pitbulls that engaged in cockfighting? Pitcocks…
The irony is the video games he was absorbed with probably weren’t Madden, or World of Warcraft, or anything like that…it was probably Frogger, Pitfall, Tetris, and Pong.
If I was totally bummed, those would definitely cheer me up.
Good to hear Quinn is recovering from a down part of his life. I’ve personally suffered with depression, as has many members of my family. It really can cause us to forget what we truly love. Good luck to Quinn.
Being a depressed person, I am glad you decided to steer clear of the jackass label on this one.
The regular season was going to interfere with his online dynasty.
Never heard of him, but wish him well. Why did he expose himself to more depression by going to Seattle?
But of course by saying you are too “high road” to make a joke about Madden ’11, you’re still letting us know you had the insight to make such a witty comment. Clever, Florio.
Interesting this turn of events. How many bad jokes did you make about Shawn Andrews. Interesting double standard.
Sometimes you get the feeling that this side has not the least to do with journalism.
Glad to see he is attempting to reclaim some form of ‘normal’ not just continuing the spiral. As much as we claim to have learned about the human body. The brain. We haven’t even scratched the surface on how it really works.
Makes sense.
Defensive Tackles and World of Warcraft players do typically have the same build.
Except the females. They are usually heftier.
Good luck to you sir…
Bet it was World of Warcraft.
The number 1 reason why college kids dont go to class:
Video Games.
Not alcohol, or girls, or drugs… its video games.
However, it seems that he retired because of depression. Video games were simply a way to self medicate. I hope he plays well.
What RedLeg said.
And from the looks of some of the Eagle fans comments, they haven’t scratched the surface on how to use theirs yet!
Headline states he quit football to play video games. Article states he quit due to depression, and used video games to relieve the depression. What kind of National Enquirer crap is that?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to say that he retired because of depression? I mean, he suffered from depression and took solace in something to deal with that, and ultimately ended up out of football as a result. Whether that something was video games, flower arranging, or drinking it doesn’t seem to be terribly material (though it’s hard to imagine anybody in treatment for flower arranging addiction). Depression is pretty rough, and I don’t know if we should trivialize it by ignoring the fact that it was the root cause here.
# gobengals says: August 5, 2010 5:15 PM
Good to hear Quinn is recovering from a down part of his life. I’ve personally suffered with depression, as has many members of my family. It really can cause us to forget what we truly love. Good luck to Quinn.
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If I were a Bengals fan depression would be
24/7…Good luck to you and your crazy family
Stay away from the razor blades during this season
The title is kind of misleading.
LOL @ Defensive Tackles and World of Warcraft players do typically have the same build.
“# PossibleCabbage says: August 5, 2010 5:48 PM
Wouldn’t it make more sense to say that he retired because of depression? I mean, he suffered from depression and took solace in something to deal with that, and ultimately ended up out of football as a result. Whether that something was video games, flower arranging, or drinking it doesn’t seem to be terribly material (though it’s hard to imagine anybody in treatment for flower arranging addiction). Depression is pretty rough, and I don’t know if we should trivialize it by ignoring the fact that it was the root cause here.”
You’re saying that if he was a raging alcoholic because of his depression that wouldn’t be pertinent information to the article?
It’s a unique circumstance, one he specifically had to address.
Kind of a weird point to get down on Gregg about. If someone had jumped out a hotel room window because he was on angel dust, wearing nothing but a Wonder Woman costume, and plummeted to his death should the article just say “Committed suicide”?
So you’re only remotely sympathetic to things that have happened to your immediate family?
His last name is what I refer to Steeler fans.
Quinn Pitcock…wasn’t he a 1970′s porn star?
I just don’t have a lot of pity for him, sorry. He abandoned the Colts right before they were set to start him at defensive tackle, and his hesitance to come clean with those issues really hurt his teammates. I can’t root for him. Depression is a legit problem, but that doesn’t entirely exonerate you from your responsibilities. He was given a chance thousands of others would have done about anything.
So if you are truly sensitive to his plight, Greg, why didn’t you make the title “Pitcock retired due to battle with depression” ? You could have then-within the story-explained his video game playing as an outlet, rather than trivializing his illness and trying to mislead “headline” readers…
Speaking of video game addiction, I don’t own a video game unit and I never will. I had a friend that let me borrow his Sega a long, long time ago and I started playing “Evander Holyfield’s Boxing” on a Friday afternoon and by the time he came to pick up his system on Sunday I had had about 10 hours total of sleep, eaten about 500 calories total, had won the championship with 4-5 different fighters with most of them retiring undefeated, and my push button finger had a dent in it that took a couple of days to go away… when he arrived I begged him to take it.
Luckily, I’ve been able to focus my addictions to more beneficial things like the gym…. if only I could get this damn PFT habit…oh how I hate loving you!
I’m almost completely sure that the person in Gregg’s family with depression must be his wife for having made such a bad, bad decision…
If Quinn Pitcock is reading this I hope he hasn’t gone back into a deep depression reading the typical pithy comments we all normally enjoy.
In this case such comments are in very poor taste.
He’s a bigger man than 99.9% of the readers here, acknowledging a problem, admitting it publicly, working on it, dusting himself off, and getting back on the horse.
1 out of 4 people will have a bout of clinical depression this year alone. Most will needlessly suffer because they can’t get past the stigma of mental illness and get assistance. Quinn is helping break down that stigma.
Most people will bore you by discussing every ailment with every other part of the body other than the brain. Whether he has any success on the football field he’ll be an inspiration to millions by his example of getting treatment and getting on with his life.
In other words, failure isn’t falling – it’s failing to get back up again. No matter what happens in the NFL, Quinn’s no failure.
For what it’s worth, I don’t remember much from 1992-95 while my friends and I had never ending battles in Super Tecmo Bowl for Nintendo. My thumbs still hurt…yet I could beat anyone in that game – and I didn’t need to be a top tier team (49ers, Bears, Giants, etc).
Tell him to try Modern Warfare 2. That might lift his spirits.
depression is real. good for him to get out and realize the seriousness of himself. Funny, not too many fights in this thread…guess misery is our bond
# brasho says: August 5, 2010 7:02 PM
Speaking of video game addiction, I don’t own a video game unit and I never will. I had a friend that let me borrow his Sega a long, long time ago and I started playing “Evander Holyfield’s Boxing” on a Friday afternoon and by the time he came to pick up his system on Sunday I had had about 10 hours total of sleep, eaten about 500 calories total, had won the championship with 4-5 different fighters with most of them retiring undefeated, and my push button finger had a dent in it that took a couple of days to go away… when he arrived I begged him to take it.
Luckily, I’ve been able to focus my addictions to more beneficial things like the gym…. if only I could get this damn PFT habit…oh how I hate loving you!
you’re a douche…FYI
“God damn the pusher man” – John Madden in this case.
I gave up video games to go to work. Now I’m depressed.
Yeah, and he magically got over his depression and video game addiction right after the Colts cut him. Riiiiiight. He’s a loser.
So if it affects/has affected you its off limits and if not, its fair game? Kinda hypocritical isn’t it?
We all have our issues Mike. Report on it, and give us the satirical comments we’ve come to expect.
@MunichEagles
Agree 100%. The folks at PFT cracked stupid jokes about Andrews’ depression repeatedly. His depression killed his career and brought him from All-Pro to UFL star. It was humor back then, but now it becomes sympathy for this guy
VIdeo Games are an outlet, with his rookie deal he can buy any game he wants and live comfortably for most of his life. Doesn’t sound like football is too bad of an idea to be able to play WOW for a decade.
Unless he wants to feel good about himself, I guess.
Is this for real?…..Sereiously?
… for some reason those righteous enough to think that THEY could never suffer from clinical depression seem to have a serious lack of attention to detail.
It seems their disability is illiteracy.
Florio didn’t write this story – nor does he write all the stories on PFT.
Greg Rosenthal wrote this one. Those attacking Florio for writing this story might contend for winner at an upcoming Dinner for Schmucks
I had the same problem wasted a good 2 yrs of my life before I got help. Best of luck to you Quinn the real world is a wonderful place.
I stopped playing video games to read this. My kids are crying,my wife is bitching and my yard is overgrown.
FDupTruth says:
But of course by saying you are too “high road” to make a joke about Madden ’11, you’re still letting us know you had the insight to make such a witty comment. Clever, Florio.
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“Witty” or “Clever” are words I’m suprised are even in your vocabulary.
Take a look at who wrote the post, dumbass.
@joesixpack
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either that or someone should put a foot up his ass……..Man the hell up and stop making excuses
Kudos to Mr. Rosenthal for showing some decency and a bit of empathy for the gentleman in question.
GO STEELERS!
@ch19079 .. No I am pretty sure college kids skip class because of alcohol, drugs, and girls.. They just play the video games when they are high
Because your family was affected you steer clear…try doing the same even if you don’t have a personal connection sometimes as well.
I had this same problem which caused me to miss most of my high school years. I’ve still got it going on, although I can control it most of the time.
I hope Pete can get Capt. Video to compete.
Best of luck Mighty Quinn!
” I’ve seen inside my family what depression can do and know how hard it must have been for Pitcock to lose his career, recover, and now fight to get it back…” So you are probably pretty annoyed about the headline then, which completely trivialses his and others problems.
He retired because of a devastating imbalance in his brain chemistry. Thats what depression is, or rather depression is a symptom of that imbalance.
“Men” who still play video games are pathetic.
Depression hits home with everyone out there whether they are aware of it or not! …
Hope he plays well … ON THE FIELD
(and that’s not a crack … although a little humor does reduce depression)
When Cataclysm comes out at the end of the year, Pitcock will find himself back in the land of Azeroth while eating hot pockets and shitting himself silly in a nearby stool pan within arms reach.
Classy, PFT. Somewhat suprisingly.
favrecansuckit says:
August 6, 2010 8:35 AM
“Men” who still play video games are pathetic.
You are either over the hill or have no friends. How do you feel about “men” who post on sports blogs?
unless you lose a child or your wife there is no reason for depression. Quit being a fag..
No one is addicted to video games strictly, this guy was addicted to weed & video games. He sat out because of the way they were treating Ricky Williams.
& Pitcock I’m “okiedog-” on PS3 come see me in Call of duty modern warfare 2. I will destroy your life and run you outta the league again you big fairy
I hope he shatters his femur and gets to play video games the rest of his life.
Sincerely,
Indianapolis