The NFL has been dealt another tragic blow as 25 year old Tennessee Titans wide receiver O.J. Murdock committed suicide on July 30th. This comes just a few months after the suicide of former defensive lineman Junior Seau. While suicide numbers for the population as a whole are far greater than the relatively low numbers of current and former players that commit suicide, when it does happen the first thing that always comes into question is whether or not the player had suffered any concussions over his football playing years (high school and college included) and whether or not such an injury led to the player's decision to end his life.
Murdock had a troubled college career. His time at South Carolina was brief due to a shoplifting charge and he played just 4 games before being suspended. He transferred to a community college in Mississippi where he suffered a broken collar bone and didnt receive his 2 year degree so wasnt able to transfer to Marshall. He finished his college career at a divison II school in Kansas but played well enough there to get invited to the NFL combine. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Titans last year but never played for them as he was injured 2 days into training camp last year and spent the entire season on injured reserve.
Murdock is the second former South Carolina player to commit suicide. A former teammate of his, former Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley commited suicide in 2010. Sadly both players demise came about in similar and sad circumstances. Both players had been on injured reserve the previous year and were rehabing from injuries. Murdock had been at Titans workouts in June but didnt show up for training camp in July. In the weeks leading up to his death the people who spoke with him said the young receiver seemed excited for his prospect of playing this season and there was no indication that he was depressed. What happened in the few days or weeks leading up to his suicide will remain a mystery. Regardless his death is another sad tragedy for the NFL.
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