Players with Mental Health Illness: At what point should a player play or not play?

[Pat-London]

I'd say that the last thing you want to do with someone who has mental illness is put them in a position to receive constant brain trauma.

 

[Zounds]

These should be case by case situations determined by a professional. The NFL can't and won't make a blanket policy for "mental illness" because the degree of severity and symptoms are so vast, and most people with mental illnesses are undiagnosed. Creating a policy for mental illnesses would set a precedent on teams to properly diagnose players' mental health, which is probably something the franchises would want to avoid.

It may be taboo to say, but I don't want players with mental illnesses on my team. In Miami we have seen Dimitri Underwood, Manny Wright, and now Jonathan Martin. Having a mental illness does not make them a bad person, but in many cases it makes them a bad player or teammate. They should be getting the help they need instead of playing football.

 

[Zounds]

I read many of you saying Jonathan Martin deserves a second chance, because you see sympathy for a guy who is weak.

I'm not so sure he will get a second chance. He stated was depressed about his play on the field, and the locker room culture pushed him over the top. So its very likely that Martin would have been depressed even if the alleged bullying never took place. His depression was independent of the Incognito/Pouncey/Jerry allegations. That's a major red flag for me if I am a GM because you can take the bullying out of the equation and still have a player with a highly volatile psyche.

 

[dlockz]

I'm not so sure he will get a second chance. He stated was depressed about his play on the field, and the locker room culture pushed him over the top. So its very likely that Martin would have been depressed even if the alleged bullying never took place. His depression was independent of the Incognito/Pouncey/Jerry allegations. That's a major red flag for me if I am a GM because you can take the bullying out of the equation and still have a player with a highly volatile psyche.

Its a red flag but for a cheap contract why not take a chance. Talk with Martin and have him evaluated. He has proven he can play football on an NFL level just hasn't proven he can take the stress.

 

[OnDaChainWax]

Very important points.

1. First and foremost I the idea of saying that it is Martin's fault for playing because he was too weak and should have known that is absurdly false.
2. I am certain that not everyone "knows" they can't cut it or handle it until they hit a situation which puts them over the edge. There is no way you will be able to screen/vet out the people who want to play in the NFL that are at risk for outcomes like Jon Martin.
3. When you add the possible connection of CTE to mental health this takes on a whole new dimension, especially when you start thinking about what happened to Kenny Mckinley or Jovan Belcher.

Its his fault simply because he did this. He had a choice and he chose this path. Regardless of mental health, regardless of even having a gun to one's head, there is always a choice. Handled internally, this may or may not have been solved quietly, but at least it wouldve been given the chance.

He was deathly afraid of being called a snitch in a locker room now he's one nation wide.

 

[JTC111]

Once the illness is discovered, I think its much safer for the player to be let go when talks about the risk of losing life/suicide, instead of having the next Alonzo Spellman or even worse the next Jovan Belcher.

Twix, don't take this as an accusation because I don't intend it that way.

I think this sentence is a synopsis for how we view mental illness in this country. Rather than get help for people with mental illness, the initial reaction is to discard them, to distance ourselves from them, to push them out, to make them someone else's problem. We've created such a negative stigma that many people with mental health problems would rather go untreated than accept they have a health issue that needs to be addressed. Until very recently, most insurance plans had minimal coverage, if anything, for mental illness. Those not suffering tend to view mental health problems as a sign of weakness and something people should be able to easily overcome. The end result is too many people with mental illnesses go on to destroy far too many lives.

 

[OnDaChainWax]

These should be case by case situations determined by a professional. The NFL can't and won't make a blanket policy for "mental illness" because the degree of severity and symptoms are so vast, and most people with mental illnesses are undiagnosed. Creating a policy for mental illnesses would set a precedent on teams to properly diagnose players' mental health, which is probably something the franchises would want to avoid.

It may be taboo to say, but I don't want players with mental illnesses on my team. In Miami we have seen Dimitri Underwood, Manny Wright, and now Jonathan Martin. Having a mental illness does not make them a bad person, but in many cases it makes them a bad player or teammate. They should be getting the help they need instead of playing football.

No, dont apply the stigma, bud. Be better than that.

With professional help and medicine, depression, especially when caught early, has a high percentage rate of success.

Will he get a second chance? Dunno. But he deserves one. Incognito got 3.

Not in Miami, though.

 

[OnDaChainWax]

Twix, don't take this as an accusation because I don't intend it that way.

I think this sentence is a synopsis for how we view mental illness in this country. Rather than get help for people with mental illness, the initial reaction is to discard them, to distance ourselves from them, to push them out, to make them someone else's problem. We've created such a negative stigma that many people with mental health problems would rather go untreated than accept they have a health issue that needs to be addressed. Until very recently, most insurance plans had minimal coverage, if anything, for mental illness. Those not suffering tend to view mental health problems as a sign of weakness and something people should be able to easily overcome. The end result is too many people with mental illnesses go on to destroy far too many lives.

Miami is only behind California as the worst states at providing mental health care. (2nd best at being worst)

And if you dont have insurance or a big bank account, i hope the afflicted and their families are deeply religious.

 

[Zounds]

He has proven he can play football on an NFL level just hasn't proven he can take the stress.

I disagree. He wouldn't make many teams based on his play alone imo. And then you have to factor in his mental state.

 

[Zounds]

With professional help and medicine, depression, especially when caught early, has a high percentage rate of success.

You are assuming that one's mental illness is known. Most people don't know they have a mental illness, and most teams wont be able to properly diagnose a mental illness unless that player comes to them with it. So yes, its treatable if it is known, but it most cases it is not known.

 

[dlockz]

I disagree. He wouldn't make many teams based on his play alone imo. And then you have to factor in his mental state.

Mental state yes but you are saying he is not good enough to make an NFL roster as a lineman? Almost every team has a lineman worse than Martin on their bench, hell our team is loaded with them not to mention we benched Clabo and replaced him with Martin.

 

[Zounds]

Almost every team has a lineman worse than Martin on their bench

I disagree. Martin was pretty bad at OT regardless of the bullying scandal.