Normally the public does not hear about NFL players realizing the effects of concussions until after their playing days; unfortunately that is not the case with Arizona Cardinals linebacker John Abraham.
Abraham met with Cardinals coach Bruce Arians and expressed his losing desire in playing the game of football. It seems as if the 15-year NFL veteran is already expressing severe memory loss and has been for the past year.
Abraham is the NFL's active leading sack leader but noted that there were times during the Cardinals over the San Diego Charger Monday, September 8, that he simply "wasn't in it," Arians said. Abraham suffered his first reported concussion in the third quarter and did not return.
While Abraham claims this is the first concussion of his career, teammate Lorenzo Alexander begs to differ. "Playing this game, everybody's had multiple concussions. Whether or not they're diagnosed is something totally different," Alexander said. "I'm pretty sure he's had multiple concussions throughout his career like we all have. This was probably his first documented one."
Abraham told Arian he feels he needs to leave the team in order get better.
The Cardinals were granted a roster exemption as a result of Abraham's leave, which they used to re-sign linebacker Marcus Benard. Abraham has five days to decide if he wants to return to the Cardinals, or he won't be able to play for the Cardinals or any other team this season. In the meantime, Abraham will continue with the league's concussion protocol when it comes to resting and being asymptomatic, Arians said.
Arians said he did not try to talk Abraham out of leaving the team but advised the five-time Pro Bowler to "be true to your heart." Arians said he supports whatever decision Abraham makes but said it is a decision Abraham needs to make with the help of his family, his agent, and the people he is seeing.
Abraham's situation is another example on just how important it is for NFL teams to monitor player's concussions seriously. There have been numerous of players whose lives after football were affected deeply as a result of multiple concussions suffered during their playing careers. Junior Seau, Tony Dorsett, and Jim McMahon all come to mind.
For Abraham it may be time to call it quits on a hall of fame caliber type of career. It seems highly unlikely that a few days will make any difference on how he feels about continuing his football career. For the Cardinals this is a big blow to their already injury plagued defense. They will have to rely even more on Patrick Peterson and the rest of their secondary to make big plays on the defensive side.
Abraham told Arians, 'There were times in that game I wasn't in it, and that's not fair to my teammates. I've got to decide if this is what I still really want to do."