Le’Ron McClain, a retired NFL fullback, sent a series of emotional tweets on Saturday and said he was having trouble with his head and brain. McClain also said he finds it difficult to carry out normal tasks.
The 34-year-old blamed his current condition on playing football since high school and said he contacted the NFL for help but hasn’t received any.
“I have to get my head checked,” tweeted McClain. “Playing fullback since high school. Its takes too f–king much to do anything. My brain is f–king tired…. @NFL i need some help with this sh-t. Dark times and its showing. F–king help me please!! They dont care I had to get lawyers man!”
McClain also implied that whenever he’s tried to get assistance from the league, he’s told to fill out paperwork, which offers zero help.
“Like im mad im pissed im crying im upset im a f–king mess!!!! Please man,” he tweeted. “Need to tell my story of how my head is crazy and how football did it…. Please someone help me get this out the @NFL puts paperwork in out faces and thats it. Yes its programs f-ck all that I need help now I need a plan….. F-ck Man. They dont f–king get it man.”
“Watch how fast they come to aid if I was some QB or anything but no I was f–king fullback that did it all,” added McClain. “@NFL I need help and i need the process to speed the f–k up Im about to crash out and its paperwork I dont wanna hear it. F–k man im done…. Im out.”
McClain is far from the only retired player to complain of head and brain injuries after retiring.
And in 2017 there was a Boston University study that included 111 former NFL players and 110 of them had evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a brain disease that comes from repeated blows to the head.
In 2013 the NFL settled a class action lawsuit from about 20,000 former players who complained of head injuries. But the league has also been accused of making those players go through a lot of red tape to receive payment from the disbursement of up to $5 million per player.
Some of the symptoms associated with CTE include memory loss, depression, impulse control, suicidal thoughts, aggression, impaired judgement and confusion.
“The NFL is committed to supporting scientific research into CTE and advancing progress in the prevention and treatment of head injuries,” wrote the NFL in a 2016 statement.
The league also said it pledged $100 million to support independent medical research in neuroscience related topics.
On August 26 McClain sent more tweets about his condition, and while he said he was trying to remain positive, the former Baltimore Raven admitted the situation is incredibly overwhelming.
“Another sleepless night,” he tweeted. “Another day Another Opportunity tho. Staying positive Kings and Queens. Its hard no lie and im scared. Look at me talked all that on the field. I was A BEAST and now im a mess man in tears now but swear imma fight this peeps.”
“Getting my story out peeps just in case something happens to me I want everyone to know whats going on a daily for 24 hours,” he added. “The darkest sh-t ever. Its no joke peeps. My life is no joke man be in my shoes for a few hours smh some people are sad smh. Im not looking for sympathy.”
Besides the Baltimore Ravens, McClain also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers, where he was released in 2014.
