The shock of Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley’s apparent suicide may take a long time to wear off for a team that has seen too many tragedies over the last four years.
Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post reports that coach Josh McDaniels called a team meeting a 10 AM Tuesday to talk about McKinley. Grief counselors will be available to speak with players after the session. Tuesday is usually a day off for the team.
Many players heard the news while at a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, which houses the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center. McKinley was 23 years old and is survived by a young son.
“It’s too fresh. I haven’t gotten my mind around it yet,” cornerback Champ Bailey told Jones.
Brandon Stokley remembered McKinley as one of the funniest guys he knew. Other remembrances of McKinley similarly focused on his bright personality.
The nature of McKinley’s passing, with no apparent warning signs, makes the tragedy hard to come to grips with. On Tuesday, the organization begins the process of remembering McKinley and moving on together.