Painkillers in the NFL: Kyle Turley on Playing Numb

More than 1,000 former NFL players are addicted to painkillers. Many are without health insurance, or any semblance of a support system. In this VICE Sports Sitdown, Kyle Turley reflects on the long-term effects of playing through injuries by using team-prescribed painkillers and the hypocrisy of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
More VICE Sports Painkillers:
Nate Jackson on “Hurt” vs “Injured” - bit.ly/NFL-Nate-Jackson
Keith McCants on the War Within - bit.ly/The-War-Within
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[@mikecatadjuster]

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.

[@MarieGlenna]

That’s cool to hear. Kyle’s my cousin but I don’t know him very well.

[@kooh301]

Did you blow him after practice

[@aphysique]

Great story

[@aphysique]

@@kooh301 lmao

[@MarciusWhithood]

Its odd that your self image is placed so low beneath these guys. Theyre as much human as you are.

[@crickella]

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

[@TerribleChaos]

They get paid millions. they dont NEED to play they want to. I'm tired of these sob stories.

[@TheTigerLegend777]

ivan figueroa Easy for you to say chump.

[@ChrisLogan787]

Damaged goods.

[@joebrady9575]

Duh lol

[@Alczervik]

Have every football player right now sign a waiver acknowledging that they understand they have long term injury potential and potential brain injury potential. Those who don’t sign, make them retire. This will end the whining.

[@ogdocvato]

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.

[@chomama77]

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

[@DreEst1991]

chomama77 thats when you come off the field and say coach i think i have a concussion. I still play and coaches are never that dumb. Hurt and Injured simply means if you're just hurt meaning cut, sore, keep at it but if youre injured like broken bones, possible concussion, or life threatening injury..let them know or dont get up and wait for help...and yes i coach too.

[@chomama77]

In all the years I played we never lost a game. Our coaches were not hearing that shit. If you couldn't play a series then you were done for the game. Coaches are that selfish especially at those ages/levels cuz they wanna get better coaching jobs. Good to hear that yours are such nice ppl but ours were hard asses that wanted nothing but dominance.

[@DreEst1991]

chomama77 not about being a nice person, its about being accountable. Better coaching jobs come to those who 1. win games 2. how they treat their players.. you never hear a guy going D1 or NFL saying yea he won games in his organization but had the most complaints from players...Your coaches were idiots....where are they now?

[@chomama77]

sorry but winning is all that matters. Think that a organization is thinking, "hey, dude wins, but is he nice to his players?" Nope. Does he win is about as far as it goes as long as he isn't a disaster PR-wise for them

[@DreEst1991]

chomama77 and again where are those types of coaches now?

[@chychywoohoo]

Lol, but players cant smoke weed

[@34672rr]

@@SkylineOwnz weed doesn't hide pain, it's a neuroprotective herb, a supplement and like most natural herbs and vegetables, reduces inflammation and helps the body HEAL, not kill pain by masking it

[@unknownpro9247]

@@swrennie this is my dream

[@robertwellington2616]

wiremessiah it does nothing for me no help for anxiety, stiffness, etc. definitely agree it’s not a painkiller. It relaxes some but not me.

[@thomasjust2663]

It makes perfect sense from a business perspective , weed is associated with yunkies, percosset is mostly unknown...it’s a business logical decision

[@nickr4015]

It's a drug.

[@pete7389]

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

[@willmcdaniel5989]

Turley was a man and to see him say this is wild. Football might not be as big in about 10 years

[@gx6455]

Football isn't the problem the NFL is

[@brysoncherry9884]

@Rich Pianas Last Oxy He's right it's not the sport itself, but rather how it it run on all levels.

[@Drewb18c1]

The NFL might have its own unique problems, but I seriously doubt a lot of what he's talking about isn't found in college and highschool football as well. Maybe fewer drugs but still plenty of "walk it off, sit on the bench for a couple mins and get back out there champ"

[@brysoncherry9884]

@Biblioburro I don't think it's just "football" though, I think a lot of crossover with rugby exists injury and career path-wise

[@Wasaled]

Contact sports are always an issue. Theres always a huge chance of getting a concussion or multiple, and even then you can still get minor concussions that you might not be aware of. Then they just add up, even with the proper medical care. Your life expectancy is going to be alot shorter than that of a regular person. If you want to take that risk in order to play a sport that you love then go ahead but if you want to see your kids/grandkids grow up and be around them probably should look else where. If you want to look someone up as example look up Justin Strzelczyk. His brain was so badly damaged they thought he was under the influence of alcohol and or drugs. They ran tests to check whether or not he was and he wasn't, they came to the conclusion it was due to his years of playing football.

[@chubbo3243]

of course football is the problem

[@mje19D]

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.

[@TheFalloutShot96]

mje19D no socks or Tylenol????

[@mje19D]

TheFalloutShot96 huh?

[@cheeseisyum2]

mje19D how did u type this then

[@Brandon-rq3ys]

I spent 6 years in the USArmy, I can agree that this guy is telling the truth. If you're good at something, they only care about that, just like football they don't care about you as a person. I spent over 3 and a half years of my enlistment in Iraq and Afghanistan. A death to the military is just another statistic to them. They will push you until you collapse.

[@mickfunny4185]

Jay M ever watch movies about SEAL teams? Kids watch that and think it’s 😎

[@zyzor]

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.

[@Jay-fq8uz]

Lol and the nfl is a "non profit" organization ahahah fucking USA right in the ass

[@MrTopGunnar]

+Dead poolmonkey so if FIFA which fucks the world ten times as much as the NFL...

[@Jay-fq8uz]

+MrTopGunnar hahaha frfr it's kind of fucked up. They don't even invest that money in the players the one who put on one of the greatest shows for the people to see.

[@MrTopGunnar]

Dead poolmonkey fifa has over a billion dollars in their rainy day fund and is 'non profit' lol

[@MrTopGunnar]

Jack Brown yeah in terms of viewership and level of corruptness haha

[@Apache32D]

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

[@carryonsailing]

Hope you're doing OK buddy.

[@starkonan777]

I hope you do well too bro 🖤💯

[@TheGuitarifier]

Neck beard game strong

[@daltonhunt7767]

Brendan McDonald his whole neck almost holy shit

[@Sasketchejuana_man]

If he wore a turtleneck, you'd think he was a werewolf

[@arksailingboat5605]

He has no neckkkkkkkkk

[@jaymillz4475]

looks like shit

[@chrisweidner4768]

Brendan McDonald Little boy haircut weak.

[@ceeevans5073]

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

[@Bestoftherest222]

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.

[@ThenVersusNow_]

More players means less money per player. I'm not sure they would go for it.

[@Dim.g0v]

Versus They make more than enough to increase the amount of players

[@tune6000]

Bestoftherest222 1st idea is stupid

[@hat7227]

Bestoftherest222 there's already 50 something guys on a roster? Look at rugby, less head injuries much smaller teams. There's better alternatives

[@BradyIsAfagInHeat]

Team owners are probably against increased team size because that means increased paychecks. I get your point though, just a tough hill to climb.

[@JohnnyCatFitz]

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 😔🙁🙁

[@TheLordsChips1234]

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

[@bababooeydude]

Are you in that mood yet?

[@lancemilliken9078]

Kevin Durants Burner Account has the barber started to shave his throat yet?

[@jonquist7089]

Too funny

[@michaeljohng4029]

He also has 10 more Ford raptors than him

[@jk-kj8dp]

Michael John G bitch ass.

[@courtlaw1]

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.

[@DioBolical915]

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

[@tooltoad1974]

I remember throwing up in the huddle after taking a massive helmet to helmet hit after catching the ball, I asked coach if I could sit out the next play and he told me "it's a running play just stay in and block" lmao

[@deeonesauce]

Yep.. shake off the cobwebs and get back to it. I remember walking into the other teams huddle in pop Warner.

[@patstutelberg85]

Yeah, back when the game had balls

[@DWilliam1]

Guys would come out for a play, throw up on the sidelines and go back out there. If you got knocked out in the field we had smelling salts and once you woke up more likely than not you went right back out there. Our helmets were shit too.

[@53patsfan]

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!

[@waldopepper1]

hey patsfan, great post! yeah this was called a “cut” block designed to cut the guys legs right out from under him. It was right for the NFL to ban the move as it was taking too many players out for the season. Sounds like you played defensive lineman and yes my brother I carry a similar story as you. Being on the field with your teammates had a sense of camaraderie that was just irreplaceable! However when I tell my wife that same thing she sez “yeah the only thing that is irreplaceable is your neck!” as during one memorable game many years ago I did my impersonation of Regan from The Exorcist. After I snapped the ball the nose tackle grabbed ahold of my face-mask and decided to play ring around the posey with my head. Popped a good three verts outta place from that one and now I need major surgery but I decided I don’t want to take the risk.

[@allisonhughes5812]

Thank you for being so brave to share this Kyle!

[@denisemunoz8735]

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!!

[@allstar930]

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. 

[@manz7860]

to add to that with kid's brain still growing

[@Schnitz13]

I salute you, sir.

[@perry6712]

Awesome

[@elonfux2492]

You can’t shield them everything. Football is more than a game. Football teaches you more about life and working with others than any other sport or activity. Football is dangerous and so is driving. No kid should not be allowed to play a sport that millions of kids play without an issue. You don’t want to raise a child who is scared of everything.

[@gamemaniac85]

NFL players need sideline health advisors not on NFL payroll...

[@whydidyoutubeaddthis]

They'd get payed off too

[@mototbfb]

Very illuminating, thank YOU

[@KIKI4444]

I knew nothing about this. Thanks for posting!

[@JROB447]

charlie ward made the right decision

[@rksto]

Iverson too

[@JROB447]

***** iverson was a beast in football and most likely would ve gone pro but he instead played basketball

[@TTodd8]

JROB447 Should have done 2 more years though at least then quit

[@Chasstful]

good call

[@yoitstonytone7790]

And Antoine Randell-el made the wrong one

[@TheFrancisLalanne]

A very courageous and honest testimonial. This game needs stricter regulation on drug use and impartial guidance for the players.

[@tishku8885]

VICE thank you for bringing awareness to this. Hoping all high school athletes watch these.

[@optimistichorizon]

*Thank you for telling your Side of the Events.*

[@BJJMadeEasy]

A 100 years from now people are gonna watch archive footage of football and be like: "Damn, this was a real sport, they actually wanted to do this?"

[@Mr-Soto]

It’s gonna be looked at like the current age looks at Roman gladiator of centuries ago, “They did that? What were they thinking?”

[@Chasstful]

And men will wear tampons...

[@justsomenerd8925]

No, they are not going to do that.

[@lq9734]

@@Chasstful If you need to play football to feel manly, I have bad news for you...

[@jsm530]

@Rob M yes it will dumbass

[@michaelangel6201]

You know, I was a product of the old school style of football, and today I'm still paying the price...when I was growing up stuffing a concussion or getting the shyt knocked outta you was so common until if you complained you were considered weak. I remembered many of times after a hard hit, coach would said you just got your "Bell Rang, suck it up and get back in"...shyt, I remember my nose bleeding and killer headaches...but if you missed practice that was your ass, position and playing time...the sad part to all of this is either they knew and didn't tell us or didn't know...I started taking pain killers once I was in college...the addiction was strong and it taken years to break.

[@manz7860]

being cool>quality of life. lol silly football players

[@warriorspiritmovers2589]

Kudos to the players that have the courage to speak this truth. This guy is a badass.

[@kendramarcos2636]

Nice talk appreciate your honesty

[@FloridaManMatty]

About two years ago, I had an opportunity to spend a day with a recently retired NFL kicker who had played with Chicago, Jax, and a couple other teams. He’s a clean cut, and clearly intelligent guy. He was riding along with me on my Ambulance to see if he had any desire to pursue a career in medicine. Of course at some point, the subject of the leagues stance on pharmaceuticals came up. That guy sat there and looked me in the eye and told me that the NFL never had any REAL issues with drug abuse among the players. He told me that “no one in the league really uses steroids or HGH because none of that stuff actually works” and later said that apart from “a few guys here and there over the years” there has never been any significant abuse of cocaine, amphetamines, or cannabis because “pros don’t want to lose their edge”, then he had the audacity to tell me and my partner that former players who claim that pain meds are a problem are “nothing but glory hound has-beens looking for an excuse to suck”. I’ll be sure to pass that along to Brett Favre if I ever cross his path. Apparently one thing the NFL isn’t missing is a lying, arrogant ass hat who apparently assumes that some regular guys in a regular municipal Fire/EMS department could t possibly know anything about (or have any personal experience with) any of that stuff. Nope! No one in the NFL has ever used Deca, Coke, OxyContin, or even an Aspirin because the 1980s called and asked for their DARE spokesman to stop with the BS. Needless to say, he didn’t make any friends in the fire house that day.

[@samking3875]

Fuck me that's unbelievable! Did he think it was your 1st day in the world hahaha. Much respect to you for the work you do good sir.

[@TheSLICEonU]

From 8 years old to 18 years old I was beating my body up. Unless it was a knee injury we literally tried to play through everything. I never missed a game or practice for a concussion but I know for a fact that I had a couple. As my playing days ended one of my childhood heroes Junior Seau passed away. I started realizing trauma to the head for so many years can really fuck you up. Now I keep seeing articles about kids that played 4 years of high school football getting their brains checked a large majority of them had signs of brain damage. Yeah, the damage was light but it was still there. I love the sport and sacrificed my body and my mind for it but I don't think I'll let any of my kids play. I don't regret playing though, and I know anyone else that played football growing up feels the same. My team was my family and I still think of them as my brothers to this day.

[@whatsinthebox5504]

I did the same started young, at least four concussions before I graduated. Never knew where the rage and confusion came from. lapse in my memory. I was failing as well. I was a smart kid but it all seemed to slip away with the trauma.

[@garrettcuppels3829]

I was the Assistant team physician for the Oakland Raiders from 2006-2007 during my Orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship and I can personally say that we never prescribed opioids for active players. The most we administered for pain was an intramuscular injection of Toradol.

I've heard over time, torodol can be pretty bad for you as well. Is there any truth to that?? Thanks in advance my friend.

[@garrettcuppels3829]

@ No problem. You are correct. Toradol should not be used for longer than 5 days or else you risk GI bleeding and kidney failure. We only gave it once via IM prior to games.

[@VIBElul]

Dog has a serious neck beard.

[@TrueblueDC4L-G59]

And a hairy asshole plus gooch

[@JaneDoe-ci3gj]

It's cool I like it 😎

[@ashleymalone1445]

It’s hot

[@gobot581]

He looks like he has to shave just to not engulf his entire body. Dude might be a Sasquatch

[@luciousmani]

Best summary ever "League of hypocrisy!"

[@bjbaron4499]

As a parent I will be a 100% sure to discourage my kids from playing football and encourage them to play other sports! He hit it directly on the head the amount of elite athletes going to football will drastically drop and they will start playing other sports professionally where they can have longer careers and a normal life after Sports.

[@marcanthony289]

Thank you your honesty is priceless hopefully this video will reach everyone out there that likes or loves football

[@parker5287]

Neckbeard game on point

[@brownecourtorielle]

I played Junior Level of football in Canada. When i had an injury week 1 of the season in my second year, I had and instant X-Ray and MRI from the team doctor. Sweet. It was diagnosed with a bone bruise and a tear in my meniscus. I was given pain medication and anti inflammatories. The pressure from my team doctor and defensive coordinator to make an early come back due to other injuries at the linebacker position. Came back early, got hurt worse. Knee hasn't been the same since

[@mbatson13]

I wish you the best Kyle... I remember you when you were at SDSU. I hope your voice is heard and that future players are treated more humanely.

[@dattmougherty_5392]

They really make that 2007 clip sound like it's from 1977

[@natec913]

Kyle, you are a good man. I appreciate you speaking honestly. I wish the best for you and your family.

[@UKBornin1971]

The NFL doesn't give a DAMN, about these players.

[@snowblind9065]

they don,t give a damn about the fans neither..All they care about is greed..They are the original evil empire.watch the movie "concussed" and see how they went about trying to discredit the 2 protagonists in the movie.

[@UKBornin1971]

@Robert Day And the nfl and owners make BILLIONS, you get over it

[@MatrixEdit]

The player knows what he is getting himself into when signing his name. Sad but players being used like pawns

[@HiBye-ec8ts]

its a business

[@ethanabelman2837]

Sam Mukhin literally that’s what football is playing football they own that team

[@hijackjoe]

Good job VIce. We watch and pay for this so we need to care about these guys. Kids look up to these guys!

[@jamesfarrington9030]

Sorry to hear of your plight, Kyle. Praying for you to get and feel better.

[@truslyd]

I played from 9 years old thru starting all 4 years of high school...i bulged a disc my junior year that didnt completely herniate until i was 37 years old...sciatica, tingling, nightsweats, the pain i was in i wanted to die...luckily surgery corrected it.

[@stephenloflin9984]

I loved watching Turley play. He played with a savage aggression.

[@phixxxer11]

A lot brain damaged players out there. This will not end well. Time will tell.

[@JakeEwing50]

This is so well done. I feel for these guys.

[@TheRajuSharma]

Thanks for speaking out

[@Adamacaciastrainn]

His hair matches his chest tattoo :P

[@Jidds]

Daveson 💀💀💀💀

[@LeoWhalen1933]

Now that's an excellent observation.

[@rustusandroid]

If players in the NFL can't afford health insurance, then we are all doomed.

[@BarfingCoyote]

Amen brother, its not only at the pro level. 4 knee surgeries (rt & lft), 3 concussions, broken left foot, bone chip right wrist, broken nose x3, couple broken fingers and who knows how many sprains, bone bruises etc. I never made it to the college level.But to this day its in my head "You play hurt and you never quit".

[@tonem427]

Wow..i remember that play..😐. and i remember those hits when i played. The lighting in your eyes when you hit people head to head. Your legs go numb for a couple of seconds sometimes. And as you run off the field to the bench you hope you get to the bench without letting people know you are Knocked out. I played DE, Blocking Fullback on Goal-line plays, I was on every Kickoff and Kickreturn, then in Junuior college i played Nose, D Tackle, DE, and linebacker during stunt plays- I was 295lbs, 16% bodyfat at 6,2". with a 4.7 40 time. Hight school (Miami Senior High School 1998-2002) i was 245lbs, 4.5 40 with a 38" vertical, during end of my junior and senior years. Here in Miami if people, coaches, friends dont hear your helmet during plays, you're not hitting or playing hard enough..i too bought into the macho bullshit of hitting head to head trying to KO people and trying to show off. Not worth all the symptoms that come from that. Am 33yrs old today and I've felt all these symptoms in the past 13yrs. But what a bad ass game. I'd do it again, just not hitting head to head.😉

[@ryanc9527]

Good for you sir! I'm proud of you for speaking up. Good for you. F the NFL. Good for you.

[@smithnwesson990]

What do you expect? You know these men hit eachother with the force of a CAR CRASH! Imagine multiple car crashes a day....its insane!

[@themuzzdaddy]

They expect their doctors to actually do their job properly and not put them at more risk because you know that's kind of what doctors are supposed to do. Oh my God who would have ever expected that logic you dumb dumb

[@Jonny15227]

I played HS ball in the 90s. I know there were times I got concussions in practice and was told to shake it off. Times have changed.

[@Jefff72]

I always wanted to play football as a kid which I played from 7th to 10th grade. Videos like this make me thankful for my lack of talent. My position was riding the bench and I don't regret it.

[@ThomGabel]

5:00 Why? 'Cause money, that's why. Great piece VICE, the NFL has a lot of shit to own up to and fundamentally change this year.

[@DaWoYoYo]

Right on spot. That's why for the league and it's the reason every player speaking up now, did what they did then.

[@RobertoGreenthumb]

easier to cover up tracks than to go back and fix em

[@MrOTBxTrains]

***** the nfl doesn't pay taxes

[@mattc9412]

Any Given Sunday was way more accurate than people realize...

[@jessejames8774]

Look at the shark lt character but players were stubborn back then if a doctor talked about concussions they would walk away

[@thegolflife7565]

I played football for years and was a top running back recruit until I was injured twice. I was never, ever ridiculed or criticized for coming out a down after taking a big hit or telling the team doc I was hurt. But the. Again I was all in and everyone knew I would play if I could and usually if I could play it would help ensure us a win because of how good our running game and offense was we knew most games two or three touchdowns would win because our defense usually limited our opponents to less than two scores. It’s more about getting kids into the sport young and teaching them proper technique and tackling so they don’t get concussions and don’t get stingers or other injuries. Telling a kid oh you can’t play til you get to junior high or high school is a huge mistake because those fundamentals and how to play the game right you learn at a young age. I actually had a coach who tore my head off for running the score up on a team we had beat because it wasn’t good sportsmanship. Good men create good coaches and sadly there aren’t enough great coaches. I was lucky to have a great coach who made me the player I was and looking back they are my fondest memories.

[@mybealoe]

Nice man!!! THAT WAS AWESOME. I believe that there is a safer and more extreme version of sports that is begging to be discovered and created. I look forward to that day in the near future. Blessings.

[@jlowe8059]

The thing is, injuries are widely documented now, and no player has an excuse to claim they didn't know. Yet they still sign up in droves, and I would too if given the opportunity. All good things in life come with risk, and playing in the NFL is an incredible achievement.

[@BrianDubs98]

jeff lowe exactly

[@iananddani]

Its not a incredible achievement if you don't get to live a normal life after it's over.

[@jlowe8059]

Thats not true.

[@iananddani]

I see a lot of regret for NFL players.

[@EnsoLLC]

Legalize cannabis for sports. These pain narcotic are doing more harms than good.

[@matt1335]

+Arfnudaniack Blue Smoking pot is a way better alternative than being hooked on scripts which is comparable to a heroin attic. And no one said it cures anything, just fyi.

[@djkurse9209]

Weed doesn't help pain like opiates. Please do your research

[@patrickbuckley4419]

+Jake Long weed doesnt fix the problem either though. not against smoking but seriously dont be stupid.

[@EnsoLLC]

+Patrick Buckley When did I said it fix the problem? Its a remedy just like opiate. How am I stupid?

[@gmoneyq]

+Jake Long I've had multiple collapsed lungs and 2 surgeries, I'm in pain everyday, and pot has never helped any of my pain, only the addictive opiates will, that doctors refuse to prescribe in most cases. It may work for others, but not me, I wish it did, it's way cheaper and a lot less addictive.

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

very well spoken guy.

[@WHITELIONNYC]

Mr. TURLEY I thank you for sharing this with us. I hope you are okay financially to help pay the medical expenses. Bless you sir.

[@rogerkomula8057]

The big cans of cat food are cheaper than little cans, even though they cost more, because they're bigger. Understand? Bon appetit, Bluto.

[@WHITELIONNYC]

@@rogerkomula8057 Yes, because the packaging is the expensive part. You can get giant Costco size good price. 🖐🏿🤑👍🏿

[@DreEst1991]

rugby is not football! no one is switching. Have you ever fell in love with something and then someone tells you to change everything about it that made you fall in love in the first place? Let football players be that and rugby player be that. They play their respective sports for a reason...because its the sport they wanna play...

[@tomrobinson1829]

+GEAUXTIGERS0109 An Australian Rugby League player who was earning about a million a year over here just joined the SF 49ers. Plenty of people swap between these sports.

[@DreEst1991]

Tom Robinson that's one guy...and he's not even good my dude.. they saw speed and strength and jumped on the opportunity.

[@joed.5748]

+Tom Robinson He just returned to Rugby.

[@cgee7590]

Then maybe football players should stop whining about money? I mean, if they love the game so much, they should just shut up and take their brain damage...unless they don't love the game enough to play it as it is...as far as I know nobody grew up playing football for the money, but that what a lot of them want to go pro for...so are they playing because they love it, or because it's where they can make the most money?

[@justsomenerd8925]

@@DreEst1991, you love football? Do us all a favor and don't have kids, you aren't welcome in the gene pool.

[@JarradBurgon]

This sport could learn from football (soccer). Injuries are taken seriously. Even a unnatural high heart rate stops you playing on the day.

[@lebron5760]

Jarrad Burgon u gotta be tough to play American sports it's just the way it is

[@ryanharper4078]

Only thing soccer teaches is how to be a pussy.

[@MrOpticBlade]

Jarrad Burgon No it doesn’t. You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. All football ”soccer” players have issues playing and are on pain killers aswell. It’s the name of the game in every professional sport.

[@smhgaming3259]

That's cause y'all are pussy if you can play play

[@alexlawender2543]

@@lebron5760 watch some rugby and shut the fuck up

[@devilred1971]

I Still Have my one and only NFL jersey and it’s a Kyle Turley Gold colored Saints Jersey...sadly very worn ..great Player saw him play ... saw him at a Slayer concert ..😎

[@WA-ge3vz]

and I have my RG3 jersey. I win..... :(

[@kendramarcos2636]

Hope you stay well

[@michaelsmith5463]

Money, money, money. Logical sense that this is a workmanship comp issue...like any other dangerous job. Similarly, college athletes are employees...and it comes back to money and liability

[@Essays4College]

Much respect for Kyle Turley. I remember when you took off a guy's helmet for a dirty hit on his QB.

[@andrewmarocco7811]

I played from the age of 5 until I was 22, including 4 yrs of Div 3 college ball. I took a few cortisone shots, and it did wonders. Now, at 44, I feel the effects. Years of carrying unnatural weight, I was a nose tackle, ignoring injuries, and just playing, has taken it's toll. I can only imagine what these guys go through. A lot of then are younger than me, and are physically "shot." Football is, and will always be my favorite sport. But, there are ramifications for everything.

[@dalejennings2677]

My favorite o line man of all time. "It's not a size position it's a technique position." Took that to heart.

[@IamHardtokill]

Why are you continuing to kick this can down the road? Answer: Money

[@Kollin011]

Using painkillers is a form of performance enhancing drug. He's right when he says that. It makes you do things no normal person can. Why do they do this? Breads and circuses man. Bread and circuses.

[@Saeraen]

Kollin011 It doesn't actually enhance performance. It simpl;y allows players to play through pain, does it allow them to sprint faster then they normally can? Lift more? Hit harder? no.

[@possumverde]

Saeraen They may not advance someone's performance beyond their "peak" but by allowing a person to perform at their peak when they otherwise could not, they do technically enhance performance. For example, If I have a vehicle which can hit a certain top speed for a short amount of time before needing a cool down and I find some after market product that allows that top speed to be maintained a little longer, I may not have increased my top speed but by being able to push it beyond it's normal endurance, I will have bettered my overall lap times (assuming of course that whatever track I'm on has areas where maintaining my top speed longer would come into play)...and thus enhanced it's performance...

[@theilluminedone7896]

Saeraen Playing through pain unnaturally with Toradol and other powerful painkillers is definitely performance enhancer. That is like saying the USa sending the CIA and Green Berets to subvert a foreign government and incite a revolution to get a government who will do business with us is not actually dirty.... NEWSFLASH its dirty.

[@immanuelkunt4796]

+Maiq TheLiar I agree with both of your seperate statements. But to be honest, I don't think saying "painkillers are not perfermance enhancers" is at all like saying " the usa helping to subvert a foregin government to get a government that will do business with them is not dirty". I mean I guess they're both examples of false statements, but if we have the whole class of false statements to choose from, I would have a hard time picking two statements that have less to do with eachother, than those two statements did. But, I still agree with you on the important stuff, though.

[@PlaySA]

That is enhancinf performance. Legitimate medication like adderall can trigger a suspension as performance enhancing, so how is the ability to block out your pain with drugs not performance enhancing? More than that, it's wrong. And these guys can't even smoke weed smh

[@crazay42]

this film is going in the right direction. Keep em comin!

[@lindsayraines1060]

One of my all-time favorite saints

[@johnconnor5596]

i honestly thought from first looking at the title that it would be about Kyler Turley playing Numb by Linkin Park

[@jojojaykay]

Michael Danh You're a beautiful person.

[@817zac4]

All they care about is money no matter how many concussion videos or movies come out nfl players are expendable there is always another person willing to play and ask less questions

[@tellemhowbeer3517]

Wow, i can relate to this gent so much.

[@lexstacks6944]

They only look out for position players, and mainly star position players.. qb, wr, rb, etc..

[@keegan1948]

Exactly why Chris Borland left the NFL after his rookie year

[@marvinflatt6947]

No made enough money and his injuries forced him to leave, he had the same problem at Wisconsin. Made enough money and quit..... smart man he was!

[@blackedmirror5073]

He still has a bother in Limp Bizkit that makes a lot of money though.

[@marvinflatt6947]

@@blackedmirror5073 a MAN really doesn't want to live off his brother.....js

[@noseefood1943]

sound similar to working at the Amazon warehouse.

[@blakepatterson9247]

Hurt my knee in the factory was there for 3 months I went to my doctor got cleared came back and said no no you have to go to there doctors on the list I did and I never go a call back to come back so I just quit they treat you like a number it's bull

[@MarciusWhithood]

I avoided their job interview after doing research on it. This is why unions happen.

[@backseatpalace]

Preach I work there now

[@noseefood1943]

@@backseatpalace I worked at an Amazon warehouse for two years now saw so many injured. They don't give a shit

[@Davido50]

Fook Amazon! They suck.

[@pistolwhippin2.038]

Powerful message

[@andrewmacejak6810]

My god parents lived in his home off cella road in the St. Louis area... the size of the humidor and cellar was just something!

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

Look at rugby. The NFL should geta rid of pads and use only leather helmets. The pads are only protecting the person making the tackle and allows them to hit harder

[@marvinflatt6947]

NFL had leather helmets 40 yrs ago!

[@doubleeeeeee]

thats how they used to play and people were literally dying on the field

[@luciousmani]

I agree. . .rugby players are trained tacklers. . .football players use there bodies as torpedoes. They have a false sense of security with all the padding. . . .

[@marvinflatt6947]

@@luciousmani football players are more safe because of the pads and helmets if taught the right way.( head up and use shoulders) Don't lead with their head. Rugby players suffer alot of the same injuries but just tackle different, they go more for the legs( which is good).That was taught back until player's went with "big hit" instead of proper tackling.

[@cntfoolmebuddy]

*Bro neck beard about to become neck-chest-beard-hair.*

[@mggeers]

Any given Sunday recreates this perfectly!

[@zytrik1]

One of my top two favorite players ever!

[@vapeshrimp5220]

How and why does a dog eat an entire bottle of pills?

[@aaronboardman2814]

Honestly what he says is probably pretty spot on (I don't know for certain I never played in the NFL) but I played up through high school, and have watched college and NFL most of my life. The one thing people neglect to mention when they talk about player safety, drug abuse, PED's etc are the fact that these players have a real good idea of whats going on with this stuff when they get into college... don't kid yourself they aren't blindsided with all this once they get to the NFL. Also the big missed point is these players are getting paid millions upon millions to play in the NFL, that's why they do it end of story. I do think they need to try to help guys who have issues when they get out of the league, but I mean lets be real a lot of these players come from low income troubled backgrounds and when someone offers them millions to go play in the NFL they don't think twice about going and knocking someones head off till after they retire and start having issues THEN they want help and money and the NFL to be held "responsible". Lets put responsibility and accountability where it is deserved.. Yes the NFL is responsible but these players who take the millions of dollars in contract money to play sport they are fully aware of the dangers of places A LOT of responsibility on those players as well.

[@PlaySA]

Dude you just explained that many of these athletes come from difficult backgrounds and have been in the football system their whole life. They don't have a good understanding of things like financial responsibility and the dangers of drug abuse. Moreover, the average NFL player MIGHT make a million dollars in total and is only three years in the league

[@barrydebois5390]

The way you phrased it makes an argument as to why the NFL should be held responsible. As they are taking advantage of these 'troubled' kids who they know will do anything if it means success...similar to girls in Hollywood being taken advantage of in exchange for roles. I can see why some would want to say "well these guys made millions, fuck 'em, I sure as fuck wasn't offered millions to hit people." but at the end of the day the NFL should be held to a higher standard. For example MLB has created a program offering higher education for when players are done with the sport. They also provide basic insurance to ALL players regardless of if they've only played a single game.

[@KB-Unc]

Sooo the military does the same thing with kids from low socioeconomic backgrounds...but they kill them and disable and dont pay them CRAP!!!!!!

[@billbeliakoff5589]

I like how Mike Ditka is there sticking up for the players. Players that he himself sent back onto the field knowing that they were injured or concussed. And he can't say he didn't know, since he is a former player and could tell if they're injured.

[@Adam-rb2zm]

same happend to me. five surgeries in four years, and a ton of oxycotton. took me nearly a decade to get off of drugs and get back to a normal life

[@rtorontonion7191]

This is why I never went to the NFL.............i'm 5.2

[@seanmulholland7597]

Joe rogan?

[@myroomisdirty]

Sean Mulholland nope that’s edgy brah

[@anubisthedog2]

does anyone know anyone who doesn't think they have a high pain tolerance?

[@MarciusWhithood]

@@JV-vo6mi i as well do not.

[@TheVatonaught]

I lived in constant chronic pain for 25 years...barely able to keep my job and worried all the time... after I retired I discovered a pain killer that helped me experience painlessness...then I was able to do without the drug. Now I can lift weights again... I have mixed feelings about these drugs.

[@rhetrochips9471]

Doubt you ever see this Turley but, you're an awesome human being and a role model