Concussions and painkillers are still a rampant problem around the NFL.
Between Jaguars backup running back Bernard Pierce's huge mental lapse during Sunday's game that was later blamed on a head injury and former Iowa and NFL safety Tyler Dash's death due to an overdose, the efforts to make the league safer for past and present players haven't led to great results.
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Pierce's issues were troubling as rather than go after a Buccaneers returner on a Jaguars punt, he instead blocked a Tampa Bay player, believing that it was Jacksonville that was receiving the kick.
The play was a gaffe that was fodder for a lot of websites and social media accounts to criticize Pierce, but it quickly became a huge concern when Jaguars coach Gus Bradley revealed that it had to do with a concussion Pierce suffered earlier in the game.
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"When I saw it I couldn't believe it, but I know he's in the concussion protocol," Bradley said via SB Nation. "I know after the game he had concussion symptoms. That's where I'll leave it at that, the play itself if you watched it."
Bradley said it was "not a good play," but he "imagined" that Pierce was concussed and the head injury contributed to the play.
"Yeah, I'm sure, I mean he's in the concussion protocol," he said. "It's just unfortunate that he had those symptoms and that play happened."
As for Sash, his story is a very tragic one as he died after mixing two powerful pain medications, with a medical examiner declaring later on that his past injuries were a contributing factor, according to ESPN. There is a belief that the former Super Bowl champion, who is only 27, suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), but it won't be known until results come back in eight-12 months.
Sash's autopsy showed that he died from "accidental mixed drug toxicity involving methadone and hydrocodone," drugs that treat pain, but are highly addictive. The former Iowa standout dealt with a dislocated shoulder and the pain from that injury is said to have played a role in his death.
One thing is certain, these have been some dark times in the NFL.
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