Comments on: At age 27, ex-Buc Arron Sears has “almost total loss of function”

By: calzican

calzican — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:26:46 +0000

Laron he is at his family home in a small community outside Russellville, Al. I know because I just picked him up walking during a thunderstorm and took him home. It is very sad and very real he isn’t right and deserves any help he recieves. I

By: laronharrisnfl

laronharrisnfl — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:20:51 +0000

I am actually a personal friend of Arron’s. We played college football together, and actually if you google images of Aaron Sears the college picture that pops up of him celebrating after the Georgia win is of he and I. I’m not here to argue or debate about what has happened to him. All I’m here to say is that his illness is 100% real. Aaron came in as a freshman at UT one year after I signed a full scholarship there, and he was a complete ANIMAL, as a result we nick named him Freak! We all knew from his first day on campus that he would eventually be a NFL hall of famer, and I’m just sad to see all that potential drained from him because of his mental situation. All of you guys that say he played football for many years before coming to the NFL, and that maybe its high school that caused this illness, maybe it was a college hit that damaged his mind, and honestly those are all very good points, but you know like I know all it takes is one play for your career to be over, and NOBODY in high school, and very few players in college are dishing out NFL caliber hits. I’m no expert but Aaron showed no signs of mental problems when we were in college. He was a determined player on the field, and a very hospitable guy off the field. Former team mates and I often joke about how good Freak could make a catfish sandwhich back in the day lol. It wasn’t until he got in to the NFL that he displayed strange behavior. I went down to visit him halfway thru his second season and things were just way to strange. He was disappearing, and being very antisocial, laughing out loud at odd times, visually depressed at other times, but I thought to my self maybe he was just different, large lump sums of money can do that to a person. It wasn’t until I heard about his illness then it all made sense. I spoke to him on the phone a few times after that, and things got even more strange. Its been almost 2 years since I’ve talked to him and I worry constantly. I can’t get in touch with him cause I have no clue where he is. All I do is pray. As far as an attempt to get moeny I assure you Freak made damn good money playing football, more than enough to take care of him and hsi family if he wouldn’t have developed this conditon, and he has never been a flashy guy so I know he didn’t waste it. But now doctor bills, and mental facility bills, and money for medicine are going to plague this family for the rest of Freak’s life. Any money that is won in this law suit I’m pretty sure will be used to help him recover, and take care of him in his family in his time of need. His mother, father, and brother Kevin Sears who played linebacker at Auburn are all wonderful grade A people, and I fully support this lawsuit. His life will never be the same because of this and he deserves every cent that he wins, if he wins. I lost one of my best friends from college in a car accident also a NFL player (RIP Jesse Mahelona) and now I lost another due to mental illness because honestly Freak has a problem even remembering who I am. I to was removed from the NFL due to injury, but mine did stem from college and the NFL was not held liable by me or anyone else for my injury, but they are more than resposnible in this case.

By: mwindle1973

mwindle1973 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 05:07:15 +0000

snowpea84 says: Jun 28, 2012 12:16 PM

Don’t players have to sign waivers at every point in their careers, from the time they are children on, acknowledging the risk they are taking?
_____________________________

Yes they do, for obvious and reasonably assumable risks. But what people are missing is all players suing the NFL are contending they have evidence that the NFL systematically tried to hide growing evidence of the negative, and sometimes life threatening, long term effects of repeated head trauma. They also contend that the NFL systematically tried to manipulate players, under duress, into thinking it was safe to play after a concussion or other head trauma at a time in the recovery process in which it was not. In the great number of these instances they contend it was directly after the injury occurred. Now what we don’t know is how solid is this evidence. But we will find out. My guess is it’s satisfactory enough to prove something, because lawyers don’t make money on these class action suits unless they win or get a settlement. They have a swinger’s chance at winning or no lawyer(s) would touch it. So anyway they do sign the waiver’s that you talk about. But signing such a waiver would not prevent someone from filing this type of suit. That waiver doesn’t cover the team medical staff lying to players about the dangers they are placing themselves under. And it definitely doesn’t cover them lying and telling a player it’s safe to play when the opposite is true. These waivers you talk about are really irrelevant to the issue at hand.

By: billh1947

billh1947 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:45:55 +0000

The young players who get drafted into the NFL have a choice,pull themselves out of the draft and stop playing because of the concussion and other health issues or get drafted and play pro football, wise in the knowledge that you can suffer concussions on the field and the long term health issue they may suffer from those concussions,if they pick the latter then they should have no right to sue their employer for injuries playing the game,they traded that right to sue for the millions of dollars they take from the NFL.

By: guinsrule

guinsrule — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:52:21 +0000

Why doesn’t anybody ever blame the high schools and colleges these guys played for?

By: rabidbillsfan

rabidbillsfan — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:48:31 +0000

Mr. Sears, with all due respect, you are making a mockery of a very serious condition many NORMAL americans have. By normal, I mean making less than 6 figures while working 40+ hours a week, 52 weeks a year. I suffer from the effects of concussions, concussions I suffered while playing HS football. I am 24 years old, and suffer from severe migranes, something that is very uncommon in men over the age of 18. My migranes are debilitating, most nights I stay at home due to the fact that if I happen to have a migrane while out, it is almost impossible to drive without putting my self or others in danger. I struggle with memory loss everyday, sometimes even forgetting to write notes about something so I don’t forget it, I sometimes even forget if I washed my hair in the shower. My job can be an extreme struggle sometimes, with my attention diverted away from my work and towards my condition. I accepted the consequences of playing football becuase I love it with all my heart. To say you weren’t fully aware of the consequence’s when you “Signed up” is sign of ignorance and stupidity on your part, not the NFL’s. Now, after you made a few million playing a game I have spent more on than made money off of, you are suing for more money due to a condition that you say was caused by the NFL, and you wern’t properly warned. Well, should somebody sue GM becuase they drove drunk and crashed their Caddy and ended up in a wheel chair? It’s called common sense. You never spoke up during your playing days, did you? Now there is money to be made though, so you definetly “Signed up” for that too. I understand your conditon, I feel for you, but as a person, I do not respect you, ecspecially if he NFL has offered you help and you rejected it. I pay out of pocket for my medication, therapy, and all of the other losses I incur due to this condition I have. If your willing, lets trade lives. See how a normal American lives with these conditions.

By: vmannj

vmannj — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:30:14 +0000

I played 3 years of 5A football in Texas. Before I graduated I had 2 knee surgeries and 2 concussions. Can I sue my school, my school district, and the UIL?

No, I won’t…even if I could. After the first knee surgery, I went back for more. After the first concussion, I went back for me. I wasn’t getting paid. The commissioner never called my name on draft night. It was purely my choice. Knowing the risks, I continued playing for as long as I could. No one else should be held responsible for that.

If players want to sue, they should sue their own represenation (the NFLPA) for not securing the costs of their healthcare for as long, and as in-depth as necessary. You are a part of an organization that gets paid to look out for your best interests. If they aren’t doing their job (De Smith), you should hold them accountable for that.

By: dtr3e

dtr3e — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:26:44 +0000

Wait! What?? You can get hurt playing football?? Since when??

All this is, is former broke players who couldnt budget their money, now want more so they dont have to find real jobs. If any court sides with them, ill be a very pissed off person.

By: tdk24

tdk24 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:07:45 +0000

I wonder if Stuntmen can now sue Hollywood.

By: beardedhawk

beardedhawk — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:01:52 +0000

I’ve been saying this for months…this is a very recent phenomenon and truth be told the equipment is light years better than ever before. its just a product of the sue’em culture of todays society. People get in terrible accidents, fall down stairs, crack their heads on cupboards, split their heads open falling on ice and receive 25, 30 staples in their head ..heal and never beat their wives or hold people against their will or beat up police officers. I personally have had 20 concussions in my high-school and collegiate career as well as fractured my skull and at 37 i still manage to lead a normal law abiding life…..enough of this crap already people

By: steeelfann

steeelfann — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:01:20 +0000

Who cares about pre-existing conditions.

The player would know about pre-existing conditions.

This is not the Soviet Union or China. We still have some choices left. Although after today, seems we lost more again. Pretty soon, all freedoms will be gone, revolution will start again, people will die, then we will have freedom again. Then people will forget what freedom is, who died for it, how lucky they are, and the cycle will start yet again.

Snooze, old news.

Be responsible, quit depending on others to take care of you.

By: coseybedaman

coseybedaman — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:39:12 +0000

I dont understand why so many people are siding with the NFL here. The bottom line is that if I am a police officer, football player, restaurant waiter, bus driver, school teacher, or any other job in the United States, and get hurt on the job, I am eligible to receive a settlement from my employer. Whether its right or wrong that is the way the world works. Thats why we pay a fortune for insurance. The NFL is a cash cow, and needs to allow for injuries that occurred on their watch. Period! Just like any other business

By: boiler72

boiler72 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:07:30 +0000

For as much as I sympathize with the former players who are having health problems … sorry, I don’t buy that it’s the NFL’s fault. It has to be a case of each individual, and perhaps DNA, genetic and hereditary traits that affect some players, but not others.

This game has been around for over 90 years. George Halas, Curly Lambeau, Red Grange and hundreds of others ran around slamming into each other with no headgear or a leather helmet, and many of them lived to be 80+ years old, with no serious health problems. Something isn’t right here.

By: chazzmon

chazzmon — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:51:49 +0000

This may some goofy but I think there should be padding on the outside of the helmet. Somewhere along the evolution of this game the helmet went from protection to weapon.

By: mwindle1973

mwindle1973 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:48:17 +0000

As much as it hurts me say this, because I totally feel for him. But he’s got an uphill battle. I know from personal experience that proving the causation of a head injury is very, very difficult. Even in circumstances that you and I might all find obvious. If the defense can find any instance where you took blows to the head that could’ve caused it, your case is hard to prove. Even if they can’t prove that, your case is hard to prove. It’s hard to quantify just exactly what blow(s) to the head caused these symptoms. But keep in mind, this is not being heard in a criminal court, and it’s not part of a worker’s comp suit. So the burden off proof is much lower. The standards for what constitute proof are different. And it basically can lie in the hands of the jury. This is very tough to fight as an individual. He stands a much better chance as part players’ suit which will eventually all become one large class action suit. BUt it sounds like he doesn’t have that kind of time.

By: shawnc16

shawnc16 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:46:39 +0000

It sucks these guys are having problems but come on, I don’t care what the NFL said or didn’t say, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that too many hits to the head is a bad thing. The fact that people wear helmets in contact sports should give you a clue that protecting your brain is important. I would feel different if they discovered that some of the medicine used to treat players caused cancer or something like that, but hits to the head being a bad thing is a no brainer.

By: brasho

brasho — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:44:10 +0000

**folksaredumb- Question: If a person returns from war can said person sue the government because they were shot? Players knowingly play an violent game that essentially requires them to use their body to stop an opposing body. The math is simple: you will get hurt. Accept this reality or become an orthodontist

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Yeah, it’s called disability… ever heard of it? If a person can prove that the rigors of their job caused injury that make it impossible or even difficult to get decent employment, then that person is eligible for disability payments.

By: brasho

brasho — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:41:31 +0000

The key will be proving his problems came from playing in the NFL and concussions in the NFL.. which will be hard to do because he played 4-5 years in college and at least 4 years before that. It will be awfully hard to prove that he didn’t suffer concussions BEFORE the NFL and that the concussions he had in the NFL were the ones that caused his problems. This is the same for ALL players suing the league and their teams.

By: snowpea84

snowpea84 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:16:05 +0000

Don’t players have to sign waivers at every point in their careers, from the time they are children on, acknowledging the risk they are taking?

By: realdealsteel

realdealsteel — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:04:11 +0000

I feel bad for him but…

They all knew what they were getting into when they signed those million dollar contracts. No one has to officially tell you that concussions are part of football and concussions can have long term health effects.

Any moron knows that. Just like the kids that got drafted this year know the health concerns of football. And not one of them has decided to give that million dollar contract up. What a shock.

By: bubba9er

bubba9er — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:04:02 +0000

The league is going to have to implement some rigorous pre-screening process before a player is eligible to enter either the draft or otherwise play in the NFL. For liability reasons alone, I am surprised they don’t already have a process in place to weed out damaged goods before a dude becomes their problem. They need to assess a guy’s brain damage before they can be accused of “misleading” a guy to play football.

By: skinsrock

skinsrock — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:56:03 +0000

Oh wow… I remember this guy… you know this is prime time in life for a young man to develop schizophrenia… who says it’s even from a concussion?

By: geauxjay

geauxjay — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:53:12 +0000

So if you Republican Party disciples are arguing that the NFL deserves no blame, then why do they let people with obvious pre existing conditions play their sport without testing people for these conditions first?

By: jpmelon

jpmelon — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:50:31 +0000

Very sad to hear this man’s story…..I’m sure he could use some “hush money” from the NFL…..I don’t see the guy winning though. He’s probably played football since 3rd grade. So 14 of his 16 football playing years were not spent in the NFL. My understanding of neurological disorders stemming from concussions; they are either abrupt or degenerative. So unless the symptoms came about immediately after a specific hit in practice or on the field, they will have a very hard time proving it was not caused from an injury suffered earlier in his career.

By: drc7772

drc7772 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:48:34 +0000

what the guy is saying is that the concussions he suffered in the NFL caused his neuroligical damage because they were not treated correctly by the Buccaneirs training staff which makes the lawsuit more legitamit in my view

By: angryamericancitizen

angryamericancitizen — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:46:08 +0000

Sad though his situation may be, it sounds like this case is a shot in the dark money grab.

Honestly, most of them are. How do you get enough concussions over two seasons to make you an invalid? As an o-lineman?

Lawyers run this country.

By: r8derfanintpa

r8derfanintpa — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:34:07 +0000

*******************************************
And we surely know the government has misled some of the young kids joining the military when recruited!

By: blackqbwhiterb

blackqbwhiterb — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:29:08 +0000

A damn shame no matter how you slice it, whether the NFL is really to blame or not…..

By: gnorules

gnorules — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:25:35 +0000

Dear NFL Player,
You voluntarily signed up to play an extreme contact sport that people try (not in a bounty sort of way) to hurt each other. Accept that YOU, not the NFL, put yourself in this position. It’s not a touch game. When it becomes touch football people will stop watching the game and the money will go away.

By: meandjuliojonesdownbytheschoolyard

meandjuliojonesdownbytheschoolyard — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:14:41 +0000

Very sad, but I’m not sure he can blame the Bucs. If this is concussion related, it would seem to be more a result of pre-nfl injuries in addition to nfl ones.