MEMPHIS, Tenn. — “I have medication to take,” said former NFL Player Stanley Morgan.
Pain is now a part of Morgan`s life. He has headaches so debilitating, they put his life with his wife Rholedia on hold.
“She leaves me alone. I go back in the bedroom, turn the lights off and that’s it,” he told WREG’s April Thompson.
“Our life definitely revolves on how he feels each day and it’s not a pattern, whether he is going to be up and at ’em,” said Rholedia Morgan.
It’s a drastic change for this former Tennessee Vols and NFL Pro Wide Receiver who bled football.
“It was a part of me. It was in my blood,” said Stanley.
Now he thinks 15 years in the NFL, from 1977 to 1993 playing for New England, Indianapolis and finally Denver, may be behind the lingering head pain.
“I had double-digit concussions. Twice I’ve been carted off the field,” said Morgan. “When I jumped up for a pass, from what they tell me, the guy came up. When I ducked my head, he came up and hit my head and snapped my neck back.”
Concussions have many NFL players pointing to the other side of the sport, what it leaves you with years later.
There is more research on the lasting damage from football concussions.
“What’s thought to happen is the brain can go forward or backward,” said Dr. Jack Tsao, a Professor of Neurology at University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
He said there is more focus now on the impact of long-term head blows like those in the NFL. One study found abnormal proteins around brain tissue that may hint at what can happen.
“Right now what is under development and is still being studied are better bio-markers, meaning is there something you can detect from a blood test that would help you make that diagnosis of concussion more accurately after the initial injury,” said Tsao.
Currently, most brain analysis is done once a person dies so the goal is to find a way to detect early-on any cognitive damage so it can be treated.
It`s not just in the pros.
David Gunter heads up Memphis Knights Youth Sports, where kids from 5 to 12 are playing full tackle football.
“First thing is making sure they have the proper gear. With that being said, making sure everything fits snugly. Teach the proper techniques of tackling,” he said.
Parents are also told to monitor their children.
“Pay attention to their actions, their slurred speech, unsteady on their feet, memory loss, things like that,” said Gunter.
It`s something Quiana Duckett does constantly with her 6 year son.
“He has aspirations to be in the NFL,” said Gunter. “I mean he got hit really bad a couple of weeks ago. I was really concerned, so after the game I asked him how he was feeling. Does he have a headache?”
She plans to let him play as long as he enjoys it.
It’s something the Morgans understand. They enjoyed their football days.
“Super Bowl 20. That’s the Super Bowl we played in,” said Stanley as he showed us his Super Bowl poster.
It’s just now dealing with the downside.
“Knowing what I know now and if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it again,” he added.
“Even though Stanley suffers a lot, there are still more good days than bad days,” said Rholedia.
Some youth teams now have parents sign concussion agreements before their kids start playing to make sure they understand the dangers and what to look out for.
Stanley Morgan is still hoping a settlement can be reached between former players and the NFL to cover the cost of preventive medicine that may help his condition.