merle hodge new book?

Merle Hodges new book basically says CTE doesn't exit. Whats up with dat?

 

I read some of it at the local book store and I really question what the hell he is thinking.

 

Cause he's got it....

 

The guy from the first season of The Walking Dead?

 

I have not seen the book. I cannot comment on what Hodge is saying exactly, but here is my take as a guy who played 10 years of tackle football from youth, high school, and college. I finished my playing career with post concussion syndrome about the same time as Merle Hodge's career ended. I have also coached in college and high school for the last 27 years. You tend to see a few things the last 37 years.

As most of us know, Hodge suffered from post concussion syndrome. Dr. Maroon was still his doctor while a Chicago Bear. CTE EXISTS. Does one obtain it from from head injuries only? Who knows? It's still too early.

Frank Gifford donated his brain and it showed he had CTE. He lived a long normal life. I haven't seen any reports on Didka, Butkus, Lambert, Mean Joe, among others currently having over the top depression, etc etc. Unless I am missing something, I really haven't heard much about them suffering from the symptoms like Webster, Seau, and others
.
I don't believe that CTE is the LONE cause that has made athletes from football unfortunately loose their minds and have rages like from steroids. It's never one thing. I think one must never forget the impact one will take when over a long period of time, when a human is experiencing the combinations of the head traumas without ANY PROPER REST, drugs to relieve those headaches among other painful injuries, and other performance enhancing drugs. The old school guys did it this way. Alzado tried to tell his story late in his life.

These players did all these type of things to stay on the field EVERY week.
Great teammates, but obviously guys with anxiety who didn't want to loose their jobs. God Bless them. It's honorable. It's old school. It's too bad we didn't have too much data on steriods and levels of concussions, and proper rest to heal the head wound.

Where is our league when these warrior's careers end? They need full medical. Period. With some of these guys, the anxiety reaches an all time high when they are no longer a player in the spotlight. Unfortunately, these guys try to get involved in something competitive and invest too much money into business or property. They try to get too big/too quick on lousy advice and go broke.

No money to live. No money for healthcare. It all comes to a head and the obvious happens. It happens way too much in our society, not just sports.

I pray daily for those in depression and those who lost their lives in this opioid crisis. Football is a great game. We will continue to make the game safe. That's what Teddy Roosevelt wanted a century ago and we adjusted the game. We will continue to improve as data and knowledge pour in for our game. It's amazing what Riddell is doing with their helmet technology.



I am sorry for such a long post. I doubt this has anything to do with Merle's book. When it comes to modern football, I hope we all appreciate and adjust our thinking. Respect the players and coaches and the people developing new technology into our equipment. I respect Merle Hodge and why he stepped away before we knew anything in those early 90's. God Bless and Go Steelers!!!

 

@NE Missouri Steeler , never a need to apologize for adding solid answers to a discussion. Appreciate the perspective.

 

I think thats what he is trying to say...not that it does not exist, but that we can't just blame it on football. They have found it in people who have never played. Never been in a massive car wreck...etc.....Many people have been found to have it that never had any kind of major brain trauma.

HACK

 

The book title is interesting.

 

It's Merril Hoge! Yeesh! Hahahahaha

 

Thanks for sharing NE Missouri Steeler.

 

I really appreciate all the comments from the last couple days. I was between coaching prep meetings grabbing something to eat when I made the post. I had been grinding on film breakdown and needed a break to do something else.
I just got home from football practice and thought I better send out a big thank you to everyone.

BTW....my team has a huge playoff game this Friday. We are 10-0 and this Wednesday is my 50th birthday. Yes, Halloween, which explains things. LOL

I am very thankful to be here. Last year, on my birthday, I found out I had colon cancer. I caught it early. It's a good thing I had a colonoscopy before I turned 50. If I waited till this year, I would have been in big trouble. I suggest everyone to do things earlier than people suggest. Do what a coach would do. Stay ahead of the competition. Don't wait til you are 50. Get a colonoscopy before you are 50!!!!
Have a great evening everyone.

 

When I had my first colonoscopy, I had the doctor write a note to my wife informing her that in fact my head was not up there. Put that theory to rest.

 

I have another one at season's end. I have to remember that one. LOL

 

Good luck man.