Sports in Stilettos
  • 04:40 PM ET  07.09
Views
581
Comments
2

I recently posted a piece about Steve McNair's tragic death, arguing that just because his 20-year-old girlfriend shot him, his legacy should remain intact.

Today, CNN.com reported that McNair's former Titans teammate, runningback Eddie George, thinks McNair's behavior toward the end of his life was a result of the void he felt after retiring from the NFL. 

"I'm hoping that people can look beyond the circumstances surrounding his death. What people fail to realize is that when you make a transition away from the game -- emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually -- you go through something. You change, and you're constantly searching for something," George said.

Steve McNair certainly isn't the first player to suffer from withdrawal symptoms after leaving the game. For a lot of people, I imagine it's a pretty scary, unsettling thing to walk away from football (or any other sport, or any other lifetime career) when it's been your central focus and occupation for so long. Why do you think Brett Favre keeps not retiring? And because of the high-profile nature of the game and the adrenaline involved in playing, I suspect that walking away, into what they fear will be oblivion, is especially hard for football players, especially guys like McNair. 

July 9, 2009  06:17 PM ET

Interesting, I agree, it is sort of a shock to them to not be in the spotlight or to stop doing the routines thay've done for over a decade.

 
July 11, 2009  12:11 AM ET

You scared me! I was afraid you were going to talk about him cheating on his lovely wife, Tamara (a*k*a Taj from Survivor: Tocantins).

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


Coming soon: Log in with your Facebook account, send comments and Throwdowns to Facebook and more.

Start Your Own Blog

Start Now

The Si.com Cover Hub Go to the Cover Hub

Stub Hub

The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Merriman: Runyan is dirtiest player I've faced
    Views
    54957
    Comments
    367
  2. 2
    Damon's Yankee days likely over
    Views
    51380
    Comments
    177
  3. 3
    McDaniels takes jab at NFL Network
    Views
    722
    Comments
    121
  4. 4
    Berrian: Bears' defense no longer intimidating
    Views
    14740
    Comments
    67
  5. 5
    Sosa facing lawsuit
    Views
    518
    Comments
    63

Most Active Users

Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns

  1. 1
    Chico 2.0
  2. 2
    BBK - Now it's all football
  3. 3
    rstowe
  4. 4
    gigi_iv
  5. 5
    Never NDing Struggle

Message Boards

  1. NFL > Chicago Bears

    The new head coach is..
    Views
    174
    Replies
    27
  2. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    Your team sucks
    Views
    106
    Replies
    7
  3. NFL > Dallas Cowboys

    Good game against a Bad Team
    Views
    101
    Replies
    14

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

SI Photos