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PEMBROKE PINES — Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Wright said Wednesday that he is struggling with depression and has asked coach Nick Saban to trade or waive him so he can make a fresh start with another NFL team.
Asked if he plans to play for the Dolphins again, Wright said: "I don't think so."
Wright has not attended practice since Friday and Saban has only said that Wright is absent because of "personal issues."
"It's my choice. Like I told coach Saban, I don't want to cause any problems for the team," Wright said outside the home of his cousins, where he was visiting. "I didn't want to give him any bad press, so I have just kept to myself. They have a real good team and I think they're going to do great things this year.
"But me, personally, I just need a fresh start."
Asked if he plans to play for the Dolphins again, Wright said: "I don't think so."
Wright has not attended practice since Friday and Saban has only said that Wright is absent because of "personal issues."
"It's my choice. Like I told coach Saban, I don't want to cause any problems for the team," Wright said outside the home of his cousins, where he was visiting. "I didn't want to give him any bad press, so I have just kept to myself. They have a real good team and I think they're going to do great things this year.
"But me, personally, I just need a fresh start."
Coach Saban has done a good job of setting people up for me to talk to," Wright said. "He understands me. It's just the business part that gets tough. I don't think he's going to cut me, because then I can go somewhere else."
Wright said the medication has helped him, "but it makes me tired."
Wright has struggled during this year's camp. He gained 20 pounds in the off-season, then worked during the summer to shed the weight.
"I worked hard to get back into shape," Wright said. "I want to play. But here, they already know who they want to start and who they want to back up."
He said his medication contributed to his fatigue so he stopped taking it and last week asked Saban for some time off.
"Coach Saban told me, 'If you need to take some time off, take some time off,' " Wright said.
So after missing last Wednesday's practice with the coach's approval, Wright returned to workouts Thursday but was bumped down to third-team on the depth chart.
"That led me into depression again, because I just kept thinking how I didn't want to sit on the bench again all year," Wright said.
Wright said the medication has helped him, "but it makes me tired."
Wright has struggled during this year's camp. He gained 20 pounds in the off-season, then worked during the summer to shed the weight.
"I worked hard to get back into shape," Wright said. "I want to play. But here, they already know who they want to start and who they want to back up."
He said his medication contributed to his fatigue so he stopped taking it and last week asked Saban for some time off.
"Coach Saban told me, 'If you need to take some time off, take some time off,' " Wright said.
So after missing last Wednesday's practice with the coach's approval, Wright returned to workouts Thursday but was bumped down to third-team on the depth chart.
"That led me into depression again, because I just kept thinking how I didn't want to sit on the bench again all year," Wright said.
I guess Saban is a big meanie, y'know pushing players to their limits and expecting 200%. I've been depressed a lot before, and the guy is just a kid at 22, but c'mon. What team will pick him up? The sad thing is the guy has so much potential and talent. He was even making a huge effort in the offseason to improve and lose the excess weight, and really hitting the weights. See ya later dood!
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