Painkillers in the NFL: Kyle Turley on Playing Numb

I drove the Saints players around the practice facility, where Kyle Turley left a big impression on me. The incident reminded me of the famous Mean Joe Green commercial where Green gives his jersey to the kid. I was no kid, but on the practice filed sidelines, with the business of football happening and under the south Louisiana oppressive heat, Kyle had the presence of mind to look over to me and say, 'Hey driver, you want a drink'? and he held out a Gatorade from the ice chest. It stood out to me because I held no importance among all of the highly-paid, adored athletes around me. But Kyle obviously saw me as an equal. While Kyle was an exceptional lineman, the human element was what stood out.

I played football for 5 years peewee and 4 years of high school and that mentality of Are you hurt or are you injured is a big problem. No player wants their coach or teammates thinking they are weak. I got hit while breaking down for a tackle by my free safety that clipped my face mask and whipped around my head. I saw stars and took a knee. My coaches saw and started to scream get up the next play is gonna start. I am in my 30s and have had neck problems since that game. THATT

All I can say - it's about profit. Players are just goods for them... :(

Kyle is super smart and honest. Being a team doctor in the NFL means that you place the best interests of the league and the team ahead of your patients.

Lol, but players cant smoke weed

I suffered a brain injury in Iraq and also played football in high schools I feel his pain

I love this guy. "They pull it off the shelf but I've got bottles of it"

I am 32 and 100% disabled. This is the exact route I took except it was the military who watched me get injured time and time again but medicated and thrown to the side. Drugs are never the answer and God do I wish I knew that then so I didn't make my injuries exponentially worse.

Roger Goodell  made $32 million this season. wtf....... and he totally fucked up with the ray rice thing, and deflate gate. He needs to go. That money should be invested in ALS research and a fund to help retired players.

Neck beard game strong

I remember the old days when we played, concussion protocol was " walk it off son, walk it off" lol

Kyle Turley was a badasss football player. Everyone in the NFL should expect this outcome, and feel blessed when it doesn't happen.

I had my knee replaced recently, after a lifetime of pain and swelling, Never made the connection to a high school knee injury caused by a running back diving at my knees while I was engaged with their tight end blocking me(this has stopped in NFL)every play. I had torn and crushed ligament and knee cap cracked. BUT I loved the game and really think I would play it again id I could!

He has the same barber as my 9 year old cousin Tucker

My prayers are with you Kyle Turley. I would love to get an update interview on his current medical condition, if he has found good medical treatment, and just how he and his family are since this interview. God Bless Our Football Players!!

I am glad younger players are choosing to leave the game before their bodies are completely broken. Videos like these can only help kids and young adults playing football to think about the what this sport is doing to their bodies.

The NFL needs to increase roster size as to make each man able to take more breaks. The NFL also needs real field doctors paid for by the NFL not the teams.

Years ago I heard a doctor say that letting kids play football was just shy of child abuse. Injuries sustained when young, especially micro traumas to the spine, are never fully healed (and this goes for more than just football). I can't imagine a 30-40 year old who has played football his whole life. It's like being a boxer at a certain point, you will come to a point where you will not have a normally functioning body 😔🙁🙁

I come from a long line of football players, including my grandfather who played on Navy bases while serving in WWII. There's nothing in this world as joyous as snapping off the line and hitting the person in front of you regardless of if it's at practice or in a game. Sadly, that's a feeling that ends with me in my bloodline because there's no way on earth I'm letting my son play football at any level because of microtrauma which starts the minute you start playing Pop Warner. 

Football isn't the problem the NFL is