Earliest stages of CTE impact Tony Dorsett

[Playoffs]

Earliest stages of CTE impact Tony Dorsett

Former Pitt running back Tony Dorsett has been diagnosed with early signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a report Wednesday from ESPN's "Outside the Lines."

Dorsett told "Outside the Lines" he has experienced emotional outbursts with his wife and two daughters, and sometimes has trouble remembering routine tasks and directions.

"It's painful, man, for my daughters to say they're scared of me," Dorsett told "Outside the Lines."

Dorsett even admitted he has contemplated suicide...

CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma and has been linked to depression and dementia.

Dorsett, 59, along with former NFL stars Joe DeLamielleure and Leonard Marshall, underwent evaluations at UCLA over the past three months. Brain scans and other evaluations indicated early signs of CTE in all three, researchers told ESPN.

The disease is caused by buildups of tau, a structural protein that can become dislodged during repetitive head trauma and affect brain cells controlling memory and emotions. Autopsies of former NFL players -- including former linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide in 2012 -- have shown such buildups.

Two weeks ago, Dorsett told "Outside the Lines" he was experiencing memory loss, depression and thoughts of suicide. These symptoms prompted him to seek testing for CTE.

CTE has no cure, but a January study of five former NFL players showed the first signs of the disease in living humans, which researchers told "Outside the Lines" was a significant step forward.

 

[Double Barrel]

Damn, man, it's sad. I'm afraid we are going to hear about a lot of our football heroes from yesteryear going through this same thing over time.

Dorsett was a badass. Always criticized for running out of bounds instead of taking unnecessary hard hits, iirc (infantrycak can elaborate as a Cowboys fan of that era). But he obviously took a lot of hard hits, and unfortunately is now paying the price.

 

[infantrycak]

Damn, man, it's sad. I'm afraid we are going to hear about a lot of our football heroes from yesteryear going through this same thing over time.

Dorsett was a badass. Always criticized for running out of bounds instead of taking unnecessary hard hits, iirc (infantrycak can elaborate as a Cowboys fan of that era). But he obviously took a lot of hard hits, and unfortunately is not paying the price.

Saw this thread and immediately thought "prettiest runner ever." Then searched him on youtube and the 1st video was this - The prettiest running back ever - Tony Dorsett.flv.

On the running out of bounds thing it is just people not analyzing well. Remember he was light even for his time at 190 lbs and it wasn't from being short as he was 5'11". One fallacy is thinking of him as an edge rusher because he made his living up the middle. When on the sideline, if there was a 1st down at stake or more yardage to gain he went for it but he wasn't going to get waylaid to get an extra yard when he already had the 1st down. Bottom line he always looked for a chance to cut back inside. He only went out when there was no point to taking the hit. Being smart probably helped him have a 13 year career.

 

[Double Barrel]

He only went out when there was no point to taking the hit. Being smart probably helped him have a 13 year career.

Exactly. John McClain - Mr. Football Stories - was talking awhile back about how much Steelers fans still love Earl to this day. And it came down to his very physical running style.

Franco Harris was criticized for the same thing as Dorsett. But, like McClain pointed out, there is a clear reason why Harris (and Dorsett) had much longer productive careers than Earl.

Funny I grew up in a Cowboy-hating family, but always admired many of their players and coach. Dorsett, Staubach, and Landry were always fun to watch and always had my respect.

 

[Hervoyel]

What must Earl's brain look like? It's a wonder we still have him at all.

 

[chicagotexan2]

I saw him on nflam today and he looks great. Still lean and mean but his speech was stammering and sort of rambling which is not like I remember hearing him.

 

[Runner]

My favorite running back to watch, ever. His acceleration and cuts were incredible.

 

[Thorn]

I'm sorry to hear this. The guy was wonderful to watch.

 

[HoustonFrog]

Saw this thread and immediately thought "prettiest runner ever." Then searched him on youtube and the 1st video was this - The prettiest running back ever - Tony Dorsett.flv.

On the running out of bounds thing it is just people not analyzing well. Remember he was light even for his time at 190 lbs and it wasn't from being short as he was 5'11". One fallacy is thinking of him as an edge rusher because he made his living up the middle. When on the sideline, if there was a 1st down at stake or more yardage to gain he went for it but he wasn't going to get waylaid to get an extra yard when he already had the 1st down. Bottom line he always looked for a chance to cut back inside. He only went out when there was no point to taking the hit. Being smart probably helped him have a 13 year career.

Agree. Being I started watching them mid to late 70s, he was the first Cowboys RB I really remember and watched. He glided!!Just a burst that looked effortless. To me he was a great all around back.

So sad to hear about this. The fact that he was flying to go get checked out for CTE and kept forgetting on the plane why he was traveling is scary to say the least.

Thanks for the video. I laughed when Staubach said that Dorsett wanted to be called Anthony Dorsett and Roger said well I wanted to be called Rouger Staubagh(French pronunciation) but they wouldn't let me. The runs between the 2 and 3 minute mark show what you were talking about. Runs inside but burst and speed has him through the hole and gone.

 

[infantrycak]

Exactly. John McClain - Mr. Football Stories - was talking awhile back about how much Steelers fans still love Earl to this day. And it came down to his very physical running style.

Agree. Being I started watching them mid to late 70s, he was the first Cowboys RB I really remember and watched. He glided!!Just a burst that looked effortless. To me he was a great all around back.

DB, I wonder if your Steeler friends remember the one who got away - Preston Pearson. They used him as a relief RB then he came to Dallas a couple years before Dorsett was drafted and became Mr. First Down.

Then there was the 209 lb FB Robert Newhouse who rushed for over 700 yards Dorsett's rookie year. Would love to see a picture of him standing next to Earl. Like Earl, he had gigantic thighs that never stopped grinding. Hell of a RB trio.

 

[HoustonFrog]

DB, I wonder if your Steeler friends remember the one who got away - Preston Pearson. They used him as a relief RB then he came to Dallas a couple years before Dorsett was drafted and became Mr. First Down.

Then there was the 209 lb FB Robert Newhouse who rushed for over 700 yards Dorsett's rookie year. Would love to see a picture of him standing next to Earl. Like Earl, he had gigantic thighs that never stopped grinding. Hell of a RB trio.

I also remember Newhouse throwing that half back pass to Golden Richards in the 77-78 Denver SB to seal it at 27-10. I always thought Preston Pearson was a great receiver out of the backfield too. I also noticed in that video what a great down field blocker Drew Pearson was...always throwing his body at someone. Thanks again for posting that.

 

[Double Barrel]

Another football great from the '70's..

Terry Bradshaw coping with memory loss, depression

Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw says the physical pounding sustained during his NFL career affects his memory, creating bouts of depression and challenges related to his new Vegas-styled show.

-------------------------------

Bradshaw struggled to remember things and decided to visit a clinic four years ago in Newport Beach, Calif., to find out more.

"I couldn't focus and remember things, and I was dealing with depression," Bradshaw said Thursday during a telephone interview. "I was frustrated I couldn't remember stuff, and I got real upset. It was driving me nuts. I got tested to see what condition my brain is in. And it's not in real good shape."

Bradshaw, the gregarious analyst on FOX NFL Sunday, has used a combination of doctors and medication to address the situation.

Discussions about football-related brain trauma have increased substantially because of the impact on former players such as Tony Dorsett and the late Junior Seau, along with the Frontline television special entitled League of Denial: The NFL's Concussion Crisis.

Full article

 

[TexasCowboy]

I actually meet Tony Dorsett when he was at a local car dealership signing autographs
for fans...such a sad state of affairs that his mind and all the wonderful things he did
during his career in football

are slowly fading into a void where he won't even be able to remember his own name

 

[Playoffs]

DB, I wonder if your Steeler friends remember the one who got away - Preston Pearson. They used him as a relief RB then he came to Dallas a couple years before Dorsett was drafted and became Mr. First Down.

Then there was the 209 lb FB Robert Newhouse who rushed for over 700 yards Dorsett's rookie year. Would love to see a picture of him standing next to Earl. Like Earl, he had gigantic thighs that never stopped grinding. Hell of a RB trio.

Man, what a trio those guys were. TD made it look effortless.

[IMGwidthsize=400]http://www.knowyourdallascowboys.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/1059753660929_original_pearson3.jpg[/IMG]
[IMGwidthsize=400]http://www.cowboysgab.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/TD.jpg[/IMG]
[IMGwidthsize=400]http://www.prolookphotos.com/2631rn.jpg[/IMG]