Bears DT “Takes One For Team”, Dementia, Death Closing In
If you’re Bears defensive tackle Israel Idonije, you have to be thinking about a career change.
What started as an article about the health risks associated with being a pro football player, became a morbid prophecy of one Izzy Idonije’s life:
Statistically, the Brandon product, a Chicago Bears defensive lineman, isn’t expected to live much past 58, the average life expectancy of an NFL player, according to the NFL Players Association.
And if Idonije does beat the odds, he’s a prime candidate for dementia and other post-concussion conditions brought on by years of slamming his head into other behemoths, to say nothing of the wear and tear on the rest of his body.
That’s depressing.
Izzy lent some quotes to the piece, but he probably didn’t realize the extent to which it would be Debbie Downerish. However, lost in the kill-me-now feel of the story, is that he will be making the switch to DE and thus, losing 36 pounds. But. You know. Massive weight fluctuation is a whole ‘nother story.
