Chilling story by Jackie Mac on Ted Johnson

Whoever is to blame, and I'm sure there's enough to go around, I really feel for TJ and hopes that he can somehow recover. Man, "chilling" is the right word. Poor guy.

Something to think about. Belichick admitted that he put Johnson back on the field too soon in 2002. I am not 100% positive, but since then, it seems that when Players are injured, there is more grousing and griping by us fans to get them back on the field. Maybe, Belichick learned his lesson from Johnson and has decided to take a more pro-active approach regarding injuries and make sure that he knows what is going on so that he doesn't come across as forcing a player back onto the field.

first off; I feel real bad for Ted that he is in the condition he is in. I wish him well and hope he can recover from all the various problems whether medical or willpower or addiction.

That said; the article does seem to want to perpetuate the BB as Darth Vader myth. Making it out like all of his injuries and concussions stem from that one incident. As I recall it he sat out a whole bunch of injury time from pulled shoulder muscles from trying to lift too much (maybe too much amphetemines ?) well prior to the concussion time frame. So I think he mentally was trying to avoid the 'injured' label because of that and failed to take care of himself when the more dangerous but less easy to diagnose concussion problems were occurring.

Note this part of story below. He failed to report at least 5 concussions by his own admission; yet he (or the globe) wants to blame BB because of a lack of judgement one time for a whole career's worth of damage?

Johnson estimates he had at least a ‘‘half-dozen’’ concussions in his final three seasons, but reported only one, fearing his reputation as an injury-prone player would be perpetuated.

At the beginning of each season, he said, he would brace himself for that familiar, warm sensation that he knew would come with the first hit of the spring.

‘‘Looking back, it was stupid not to tell anyone,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘But I didn’t know then that every time you have a concussion, you are four to six times more susceptible the next time. I had no idea the damage I was causing myself.’’

Click to expand...

I don't think there is anyone in story without a piece of blame. And FOR SURE the story needs to be publicized to the young players to make sure they are aware and take care of themselves. But the part villainizing BB is a bit over the top.

Well OK, looks like the NYT also has a lengthy story out today, with a lot more quotes from Ted. Belichick didn't comment on this one.

Dr. Cantu said that he was convinced Mr. Johnson’s cognitive impairment and depression “are related to his previous head injuries, as they are all rather classic postconcussion symptoms.” He added, “They are most likely permanent.”

Asked for a prognosis of Mr. Johnson’s future, Dr. Cantu, the chief of neurosurgery and director of sports medicine at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass., said: “Ted already shows the mild cognitive impairment that is characteristic of early Alzheimer’s disease.

Click to expand...

“I am afraid of somebody else being the next Andre Waters,” said Mr. Johnson, who spent two weeks in February at a psychiatric hospital outside Boston with, he said, no appreciable results. “People are going to question me: ‘Are you a whistleblower, what are you doing this for?’ You can call it whatever you want about what happened to me. I didn’t know the long-term ramifications. You can say that my coach didn’t know the long-term, or else he wouldn’t have done it. It is going to be hard for me to believe that my trainer didn’t know the long-term ramifications, but I am doing this to protect the players from themselves.”

Click to expand...

“I’m sitting there going, ‘God, do I put this thing on?’ ” Mr. Johnson said. “I put the blue on. I was scared for my job.”

Regarding the intimidation he felt at that moment, Mr. Johnson added, “This kind of thing happens all the time in football. That day it was Bill Belichick and Ted Johnson. But it happens all the time.”

Click to expand...

“It’s as clear as a bell — ‘I had to see if you could play,’ ” Mr. Johnson recalled Mr. Belichick saying. Minutes later, Mr. Johnson said, Mr. Belichick admitted he had made a mistake by making him wear the blue jersey. “It was a real kind of admittance, but it was only him and I in the room,” Mr. Johnson said.

Click to expand...

Sitting in his apartment this week, Mr. Johnson said that he had not considered a lawsuit against Mr. Belichick, any Patriots personnel or the N.F.L. He said that his sole motivation was to raise awareness of the dangers that football players can face regarding concussions.

Asked who was to blame for his condition — Mr. Belichick, Mr. Whalen, himself or the entire culture of the N.F.L. — Mr. Johnson thought for 30 seconds and said he could not decide.

Click to expand...

There is a lot of stuff in the article, I would read the whole thing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/02/sports/football/02concussions.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=login

And ESPN has picked it up too, with the title: 'Ex-Pats linebacker blames Belichick for depression'

DaBruinz said:

I feel sorry for Ted Johnson. But, I also feel disdain.

He blames Belichick for all of the problems he's currently facing.

His amphetamine addiction.
His memory loss.
His emotional issues.

1) While Belichick may have "prodded" Johnson back on the field, Johnson had the right, at any time, to just say NO.

2) Johnson kept his concussions a secret and did not seek help at the time they occurred. Which also explains how BB and Pioli were unprepared for Ted Johnson's sudden retirement prior to the start of training camp in 2005.

3) Bill Belichick didn't tie Johnson down and shove amphetamines down the guy's throat day in and day out. And its as likely that the amphetamines are as much a cause for the memory loss and emotional issues as Johnson's concussions were.

I give Johnson credit, he DID take responsibility for his not telling about 5 of his concussions. But he still blamed the concussions on Belichick.

Click to expand...

Well said, wasn't there always a suspicion that Ted was a steroid guy also, not to minimize his brain issues and that many of his early injury problems were concurrent with that type of use??

As much as I liked Ted Johnson and his abilities there are some inconsistencies, I heard him say that BB did not call him when Seau went down. There have also been some historic stuff with him and BB, didn't he get all pissed off and leave the team when they asked him to take a salary cut a couple of years ago.

I feel bad for the guy, and wish him well, but there are some inconsistencies.. at least Felger and Borges will have something to yak and write about.. BB bad everyone else good.

Sad story....but it is right..a few things do not add up...but sometimes all the things true do not fit into a puzzle...

T Johnson appears to be mentally impaired now. So the types of inconsistencies people refer to would be expected wouldn't they?

This is a sad story with no villians. I feel bad for guys like Johnson and Waters. I also think attitudes about concussions have changed a lot over the years, hopefully people will pay more attention going forward.

My thoughts:

--despite the Boston Globe's continuous campaign to cast Belichick in as bad a public light as possible (and its sports editor's shameful yet obvious relish in doing so), whatever individual blame there is to be meted out is secondary to a clear pattern of "cultural" neglect in the NFL regarding head trauma and concussions. The stories of Mike Webster, Andre Waters, and others should make this clear that the story is not only Ted Johnson and his Patriots career, but of many players, many coaches, many trainers, and many silent struggles;

--hopefully the team will choose to meet this story head-on, and perhaps speak publicly of any changes they have made, or continue to make, regarding head injuries, or player injuries generally. Here, as in other areas, the Patriots could demonstrate real leadership in the league;

--it is possible that Ted Johnson may have had mental health problems (no shame in that) prior to the onset of recurrent post-concussion symptoms. It may also be that such problems made it more possible for the team and for his Head Coach to have screwed up in their handling of the 2002 concussion, by prompting them to treat Ted more aggressively than they might have otherwise. This suggestion is not made to minimize the real possibility that Bill Belichick erred, and that Ted has suffered as a result, but it is clear even from this story that Ted had a rocky relationship with Belichick long prior to the highlighted concussion-event;

--it is still difficult to know how accurate Ted's assessment of the importance of that 2002 concussion really is. The medical evidence seems to indicate that yes, he did suffer a second concussion, and that yes, he should not have been enduring contact...but it is hard to believe that Ted really *knows* that that incident has been the cause of all the problems since;

--the NFL's lack of extreme caution regarding head injuries can be highlighted using many other coaches and teams around the league. Consider the decision by Mike Shanahan to send Jay Cutler back into the final game of the season against the Niners despite the possibility that Cutler had had some sort of concussion. Yet the season was on the line...this has not been discussed in detail, as far as I can recall, but I do not read the Rocky Mountain Times.

All in all, a sad story, with, as some on the forum have already said, no villains, only victims. I hope that Ted can improve, and that the Patriots will make a continued effort to show compassion for a former player, and a renewed effort to show caution for their players currently and in the future. As one of the exemplary teams, and champions, in the National Football League, New England can choose to make a significant difference in the lives of many players in the years to come.

DaBruinz said:

I agree that the entire NFL needs to change. However, as ESPN the Magazine pointed out, the NFL and NFLPA has some stooges in place that only tell the NFL what they want to hear. Their "concussion team" has had their veracity questioned quite severely by ESPN, to the point that, if I remember correctly, the NFL had a cease and desist injunction slapped on them regarding the topic.

Click to expand...

Okay, granted the issue here is the pressure to play hurt... and granted, the different perspectives I'm about to talk about come from different fans... BUT...

Have you guys noticed that relatively "player friendly," "stop-the-insanity" type of talk suddenly makes sense after a story like this, especially affecting one of our own?

But otherwise, any rule that limits the "toughness" factor in football is "making the game into flag football", and is likely the brainchild of Polian.

Obviously there's the rules for receivers and points of emphasis, which are pretty far afield from this, but how many of us wrote in favor of the "hands off the QB" rules that have progressively gone into effect?

This isn't calling out the original poster, just jumping off from that comment...

Secondly, I once posted a general question on "Why the hell are we always injured?" One response was that the Pats play -- and practice -- an extremely physical type of football.

Is what (supposedly) happened here, an outgrowth of toughness in practicing? You know no player really wants to leave the game, regardless of his financial position, except Ricky Williams for about 1 year.... so you would think it could happen on any team.

But really, is it possible that the "me-first" babies who would sit out a season, rather than risk their health while not under contract, have a point? That is, that it's become such an inherently violent and dangerous game, you have to be nuts to play it without milking every dime out of it?

Just opening up the cans of worms here, folks. As for who's thown under the bus here, I don't care right now. Seems the Shlitzstorms keep coming in Pats Country... I just look forward to the day when I can read about free agency and draft picks instead of shoeboxes full of cash and supposed responsibility for tragic concussions.

Sigh. I guess that means waiting until we're "lovable losers" again... screw it. That can wait.

PFnV

The New York Times also has a story on this by Alan Schwarz:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/02/s...00&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

The AP also has a story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070202/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_patriots_johnson_concussions

I feel terrible for TJ, I really liked him as a player and its a very sad thing.

something doesnt add up however, regarding the usual "Its all Belichicks fault" stuff. Not everyone who has a concussion lumps up his wife.

And I remember that pre 2002 opener incident. All of Drew friends and the Globe were going after BB then. On one hand, he says hes having trouble with the concussion, and then he complains about not playing. then he goes public and runs away from the team. At the time I just wanted him gone.

Now have more sympathy. But I'm suspicious about it when its just another bash Bill moment. And the timing is interesting, right when theres a media
Bill Belichick is evil season going on.
Jackie McMullen has been after Belichick since 2002 on this issue.

But from reading that story, this isnt as simple as TJ is trying to make it.

BelichickFan said:

Certainly a sad story. But a couple of things don't add up :

- Just a couple of months ago, Johnson hinted that he would consider playing again.

- He's blaming Belichick so much for that incident in training camp of 2002 - and then played 3 more season (including 2002). If he was so upset at getting the "blue jersey", maybe he shouldn't have played three more years.

I'm not trying to pick on the guy but he seems so intent on blaming Belichick when Johnson could have retired any time he liked.

Click to expand...

I kindof had the same reaction as you - almost seems like this is a prelude to a major lawsuit.

Seems like depression is the biggest problem - that could have something to do with being a retired star as well - and of course, depression need have nothing to do with concussions.

Not to slander the guy but I always felt if there were one guy on the Patriots using HGH or other supplements, it was Johnson - though I'm simply basing that on his incredible phsysique, no neck, and history of strange muscle tears.

Those things of course can also have psychological and physical consequences.

If that's part of the "story" as well I would hope Ted would include that part - but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now and hope he gets better soon.

Its very sad, also I remember him being deactive for the Steelers game that yr, and he was ticked about it... I just think he is a messed up guy right now, and pointing the blame at everyone but himself... When Ted retired, he was critical of the Pats when he worked for the media , but he gave up that job.. He is a guy that is going through a difficult time in his life, hope he gets help...

Maybe somebody's memory is better than mine, but didn't Ted's father write a letter to the Globe after his retirement thanking everybody in the Patriots' organization for the way they treated his son throughout his career?????

BelichickFan said:

Reading that article, it's Belichick who's getting thrown under the bus.

Click to expand...

This is the most accurate description of the article, and the Boston TV stations were already running it on the morning newscasts that BB sent him to practice too early.

Patsfanin Philly said:

Maybe somebody's memory is better than mine, but didn't Ted's father write a letter to the Globe after his retirement thanking everybody in the Patriots' organization for the way they treated his son throughout his career?????

Click to expand...

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/09/11/the_proud_father/

Did the Globe pull the story? The link is dead.

I hate the Globe.

They put alot of the onus on the NFL to change it's culture and handle concussions differently, but the NFL can't do that if the players are holding back the information.

The thing that really needs to change is controlled by the players, and that's this supposed 'man law' that if you're injured you suck it up.

If Johnson had been less worried about his rep of macho-ness and more worried about his health, then he probably would be fine today.

This 'code' that the players feel obligated to play by needs to be changed amongst themselves to say 'if your health is at risk, do what you've gotta do to live right after football'.

Sad. Just sad.

sieglo said:

Did the Globe pull the story? The link is dead.

I hate the Globe.

Click to expand...

Here's a new (working) link...

http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...7/02/02/i_dont_want_anyone_to_end_up_like_me/