In the last decade, suicide has
become a nasty theme across the NFL. The September 2013 suicide of former San
Diego Charger Paul
Oliver made a total of 11 player and former-player suicides since 2005.
Among the most devastating was the murder-suicide of Kansas City linebacker Jovan
Belcher (December 2012).
Prior to shooting himself in front
of his head Coach Romeo
Crennel and General Manager Scott Pioli at the team’s facility, Belcher
shot his daughter’s mother, Kasandra Perkins. Like multiple examples before
him, the linebacker is suspicioned to have suffered head injuries. These
suspicions even led to a lawsuit waged against
the Chief’s organization by Belcher’s mother, Cheryl
Shepherd.
According to close friend Pierre
Walters, the unknown D-end from the University of Maine was “a real genuine
guy.” Walters described Belcher as being particularly generous and sensitive to
others. Nothing from his descriptions indicated the heinous
violence displayed by Belcher on December 1, 2012.
Jovan Belcher. Photo courtesy of foxsports.com.
Generosity seemed to characterize
the external look of the relationship between Belcher and Perkins, one destined
for marriage according to some. The two even shared an interest in handguns and
made visits to gun ranges together. Turbulence brought on through arguments and
the emergence of another woman seemed to calm in September 2012 when the two
welcomed a baby girl, Zoey.
The field of play revealed a
different version of the former Division I-AA athlete. Belcher proved to be
fierce and violent and a fan favorite, always willing to give an autograph or
hug.
On the field, a particularly
violent hit laid on Bengal running back BenJarvis Green-Ellis, the last of his
career and life, appeared to have marked a turning point for Belcher. In the
days following the November 18 game, an “off” Belcher seemed zombie-like in
practice and exhibited a mood punctuated by random surges of anger.
In what would prove to be the final months of his life, Belcher was observed by close friends to be drinking more,
engaging in arguments with Perkins, and lacking fulfillment from his career.
Spotty to say the least, Belcher’s
behavior leading up to the shootings was distant from his former self. Walters
still remembers texting his friend the morning of the tragedy, and receiving no
response only to turn on the TV to his death. The cause of death was a single
.40 caliber shot to the head, the final shot Belcher would ever take.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the United States in young people aged 10-24 years and the second leading cause of death among ages 25 to 34 years. These ages also span the period when most professional athletes are competing. This is becoming more and more as year’s progress. Athletes are just like any other person in society. Athletes must be able to ask for help when needed, and not wait until it’s too late.
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