deathadder
03-15-2006, 05:47 AM
Jeff Burris wants everyone who heard him on 97 Rock on the final pregame show of the Buffalo Bills season to know he's doing fine.
The sideline reporter stunned listeners on the first day of 2006 by revealing he had been battling depression for more than two years.
After telling play-by-play man John Murphy that he had some things he wanted to say, Burris told the radio audience that he understood what Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy's late son, James, had experienced because he was battling depression, had lost his family and had considered suicide.
The revelation surprised Bills officials, who were concerned for Burris' welfare and believed it was a cry for help. They were unaware that he has been treated by a doctor on and off for about two years.
"Am I where I need to be right now? No, not yet," Burris said in a telephone interview from his home in Indianapolis. "But I will eventually get there. I am close to recovery and where I need to be."
He says working on the Bills radio broadcasts was a big help in getting him out of depression.
"It was a huge step forward, four or five steps forward," Burris said. "It gave me a sense of direction again. When you walk away from football, a lot of guys lose a sense of direction. All my life I dealt with a set regimen. This has given me another opportunity to be on that time frame."
The suicide of Dungy's son and the announced retirement of New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet, who, like Burris, experienced a series of concussions and didn't want to walk away from football, inspired Burris to discuss his difficulties since his 2004 retirement.
"I felt it was time to speak of the trials and tribulations that I've experienced for the last three years," he said.
Ken Ruettgers, who played for the Green Bay Packers for 12 years and is the founder and executive director of GamesOver.org, a nonprofit Web site dedicated to helping players struggling with transition, said Burris' radio address was a good sign for his recovery.
"The fact he is making his challenges public is a big step because he's moving beyond denial," Ruettgers said.
Ruettgers, who experienced depression after he retired in 1996, notes that Burris' post-retirement story is common. He said that many players experience denial, depression and addictive behavior and have relationship problems after retirement.
"It is very familiar," said Ruettgers, who is 43. "Every playerat some level the challenges of transition. You've lost your job, your identity and your position. Their identity is so locked in to seeing themselves as a football player. It is common for a player in transition to consider suicide. The suicide rate for a retired NFL player is six times greater than the national average. Half of all the divorces that happen to NFL players happen in the first year of transition."
He plans to let Burris know that he is "facing typical and normal challenges" for a retired player.
"Most people don't realize and appreciate what professional athletes go through," Burris said. "Unfortunately, we don't get the help we deserve. The perception is you get paid all this money and you're able to afford this and that. Yes, it is true to an extent. But there are a lot of things that go outside of that that people don't realize."
Burris retired after banging heads with receiver David Givens in a non-contact drill during a New England minicamp in June 2004. He had had numerous concussions, and decided against risking another.
He said his problems began soon after when he started drinking to pass time. Around the time of training camp, he separated from his wife, Lisa, a lawyer in Indianapolis. They have two young children, and Burris says he is in contact with them daily.
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE:
http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060314/1030259.asp
The sideline reporter stunned listeners on the first day of 2006 by revealing he had been battling depression for more than two years.
After telling play-by-play man John Murphy that he had some things he wanted to say, Burris told the radio audience that he understood what Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy's late son, James, had experienced because he was battling depression, had lost his family and had considered suicide.
The revelation surprised Bills officials, who were concerned for Burris' welfare and believed it was a cry for help. They were unaware that he has been treated by a doctor on and off for about two years.
"Am I where I need to be right now? No, not yet," Burris said in a telephone interview from his home in Indianapolis. "But I will eventually get there. I am close to recovery and where I need to be."
He says working on the Bills radio broadcasts was a big help in getting him out of depression.
"It was a huge step forward, four or five steps forward," Burris said. "It gave me a sense of direction again. When you walk away from football, a lot of guys lose a sense of direction. All my life I dealt with a set regimen. This has given me another opportunity to be on that time frame."
The suicide of Dungy's son and the announced retirement of New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet, who, like Burris, experienced a series of concussions and didn't want to walk away from football, inspired Burris to discuss his difficulties since his 2004 retirement.
"I felt it was time to speak of the trials and tribulations that I've experienced for the last three years," he said.
Ken Ruettgers, who played for the Green Bay Packers for 12 years and is the founder and executive director of GamesOver.org, a nonprofit Web site dedicated to helping players struggling with transition, said Burris' radio address was a good sign for his recovery.
"The fact he is making his challenges public is a big step because he's moving beyond denial," Ruettgers said.
Ruettgers, who experienced depression after he retired in 1996, notes that Burris' post-retirement story is common. He said that many players experience denial, depression and addictive behavior and have relationship problems after retirement.
"It is very familiar," said Ruettgers, who is 43. "Every playerat some level the challenges of transition. You've lost your job, your identity and your position. Their identity is so locked in to seeing themselves as a football player. It is common for a player in transition to consider suicide. The suicide rate for a retired NFL player is six times greater than the national average. Half of all the divorces that happen to NFL players happen in the first year of transition."
He plans to let Burris know that he is "facing typical and normal challenges" for a retired player.
"Most people don't realize and appreciate what professional athletes go through," Burris said. "Unfortunately, we don't get the help we deserve. The perception is you get paid all this money and you're able to afford this and that. Yes, it is true to an extent. But there are a lot of things that go outside of that that people don't realize."
Burris retired after banging heads with receiver David Givens in a non-contact drill during a New England minicamp in June 2004. He had had numerous concussions, and decided against risking another.
He said his problems began soon after when he started drinking to pass time. Around the time of training camp, he separated from his wife, Lisa, a lawyer in Indianapolis. They have two young children, and Burris says he is in contact with them daily.
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE:
http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060314/1030259.asp