Over 10 Years of Bearing Down
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No it's not a deal with the devil, just life. He wanted to be a savior for his family but there is only one Savior. We're all shaped by our "journey" and how we handle tough times. I'm having my fill with an addict son who can't seem to get off the detox-rehab-fail cycle. I can blame drugs but it is still on him to choose.Sitting here now, looking back on everything, it almost feels like, with football, you kind of made a deal with the devil or something. Like all that’s happened was somehow the price you had to pay to make it to the NFL and be successful. And maybe that’s the case or maybe it’s not, but it’s something you’re going to have to think long and hard about, basically for your entire life going forward.
Like others mentioned above, I hope Tarik Cohen can bounce back and be a scoring threat again, even if it's not for the Bears.You wouldn’t want to forget the past anyway. Your past … it’s all just part of who you are now.
But who you are can be so much more than just hurt.
Sure was. We tend to forget that when the game is over these guys all have lives to go to that may not be all that different from our own. They're more well off financially than almost all of us but money can't solve all of their problems or make the pain of losing someone you love hurt any less. It's that part of them that's just as human as anyone else we sometimes overlook.RustinFields wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 7:30 pm this was a tough read.
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts ... l-football
Bearfacts wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 11:49 pmSure was. We tend to forget that when the game is over these guys all have lives to go to that may not be all that different from our own. They're more well off financially than almost all of us but money can't solve all of their problems or make the pain of losing someone you love hurt any less. It's that part of them that's just as human as anyone else we sometimes overlook.RustinFields wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 7:30 pm this was a tough read.
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts ... l-football
As for Tarik's injury. I cannot recall the Bears even once telling fans how severe his injury was an what he was dealing with so of course some would feel he was just dogging it because he got paid before it happened. I guess that's another of those little not so secrets Pace never believed was important enough to tell. I really am glad that era is over.
Glad to hear he's finally healing as far as his football future goes but how does he heal from the rest? That's an even bigger challenge.
Yeah. While it makes you want to root for him - football and money didn't solve his problems before. And it won't bring his brothers back, either. He's already got lifetime wealth for him and his mother.The Cooler King wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 9:47 pmI'll be rooting for him to make it back in the league.
Hope he finds healing too.
I say it partially because it does sound like he legitimately wants to make it back. I bet if he can make it back it will be part of his healing. Because he sounds like he wants to forgive himself and remove doubt that it all could have been avoided had he not chased his own dreams.Moriarty wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 7:24 amYeah. While it makes you want to root for him - football and money didn't solve his problems before. And it won't bring his brothers back, either. He's already got lifetime wealth for him and his mother.The Cooler King wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 9:47 pm
I'll be rooting for him to make it back in the league.
Hope he finds healing too.
Finding peace is something else.
Maybe football can refocus him and give him some daily purpose and a sense of normalcy. But maybe not. Neal Anderson comes to mind. After his mother died and his father was arrested for (a separate) murder, his career completely tanked. From the outside, it seemed like he just didn't care any more.
Yeah, must be horrible to sign a contract for millions at the age of 22. So you could play football for the Chicago Bears and be a star player.
I generally agree to not feeling bad for football players. Or most people. That doesn't make the death of his twin and paralization of his brother less then sad. Everyone has shit. Your shit may trump my shit, my shit may trump Tariks. You can have empathy but I dont think Tarik is asking for sympathy. Hes telling others from his background to realize just because you made it doesn't mean you can fix everything.
The whole point went right over your head. He wasn't lamenting his life. Notice he didn't even bring up what caused his injury, which was a total BS hit on a fair catch. He was lamenting that he couldn't fix his family despite his struggles to do so. This wasn't a "woe is me." It was more of a "damn me," that he should have done even more. That as the eldest, it was his responsibility.Richie wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 8:47 pmYeah, must be horrible to sign a contract for millions at the age of 22. So you could play football for the Chicago Bears and be a star player.
I mean, the sheer and utter horror that must entail.
Look, his injury is unfortunate, but it's quite a charmed life he has led. You know many human beings have worse than his childhood story? And their best case is that MAYBE they can wind up regular dudes. Not in jail. Not dying. Shit... forget about the US. How about the rest of the world? His childhood was BEYOND blessed compared to what millions face across the planet.
This is a guy who entered the top 1% of wealth in his early 20's and got to do it playing football for a team we would all give our left nut to play on for free. I'm supposed to feel horrible because he suffered a knee injury? One that will heal, I might add... Feel bad because he ALMOST did something with a gun and bag of crack? Because he had a single mom who raised three boys... etc...?
Maybe some here haven't suffered or seen hopelessness before. However, I am actually semi-insulted by this"woe is me" Tarik Cohen article. Go live Tarik Cohen's life, plus some, and have a mom you need/want to "save". Making much less, in a much less glorious fashion while having to do so.
God bless those who make it into Tarik's position in life. Go make every damn penny. You've earned it. Just don't cry to me about your life in the process...
Incredibly bad take on the purpose of the letter.Richie wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 8:47 pmYeah, must be horrible to sign a contract for millions at the age of 22. So you could play football for the Chicago Bears and be a star player.
I mean, the sheer and utter horror that must entail.
Look, his injury is unfortunate, but it's quite a charmed life he has led. You know many human beings have worse than his childhood story? And their best case is that MAYBE they can wind up regular dudes. Not in jail. Not dying. Shit... forget about the US. How about the rest of the world? His childhood was BEYOND blessed compared to what millions face across the planet.
This is a guy who entered the top 1% of wealth in his early 20's and got to do it playing football for a team we would all give our left nut to play on for free. I'm supposed to feel horrible because he suffered a knee injury? One that will heal, I might add... Feel bad because he ALMOST did something with a gun and bag of crack? Because he had a single mom who raised three boys... etc...?
Maybe some here haven't suffered or seen hopelessness before. However, I am actually semi-insulted by this"woe is me" Tarik Cohen article. Go live Tarik Cohen's life, plus some, and have a mom you need/want to "save". Making much less, in a much less glorious fashion while having to do so.
God bless those who make it into Tarik's position in life. Go make every damn penny. You've earned it. Just don't cry to me about your life in the process...
Betrayals of ones body are so maddening. These guys are being confronted with the reality that you aren't shit without healthy legs, and those legs go bye-bye very quickly. Also your career is over at 25, so have fun with that.
Potentially the worst post in this forum's history.Richie wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 8:47 pmYeah, must be horrible to sign a contract for millions at the age of 22. So you could play football for the Chicago Bears and be a star player.
I mean, the sheer and utter horror that must entail.
Look, his injury is unfortunate, but it's quite a charmed life he has led. You know many human beings have worse than his childhood story? And their best case is that MAYBE they can wind up regular dudes. Not in jail. Not dying. Shit... forget about the US. How about the rest of the world? His childhood was BEYOND blessed compared to what millions face across the planet.
This is a guy who entered the top 1% of wealth in his early 20's and got to do it playing football for a team we would all give our left nut to play on for free. I'm supposed to feel horrible because he suffered a knee injury? One that will heal, I might add... Feel bad because he ALMOST did something with a gun and bag of crack? Because he had a single mom who raised three boys... etc...?
Maybe some here haven't suffered or seen hopelessness before. However, I am actually semi-insulted by this"woe is me" Tarik Cohen article. Go live Tarik Cohen's life, plus some, and have a mom you need/want to "save". Making much less, in a much less glorious fashion while having to do so.
God bless those who make it into Tarik's position in life. Go make every damn penny. You've earned it. Just don't cry to me about your life in the process...
Oh man...and we've had some bangersUOK wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 12:18 pm
Potentially the worst post in this forum's history.Richie wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 8:47 pm
Yeah, must be horrible to sign a contract for millions at the age of 22. So you could play football for the Chicago Bears and be a star player.
I mean, the sheer and utter horror that must entail.
Look, his injury is unfortunate, but it's quite a charmed life he has led. You know many human beings have worse than his childhood story? And their best case is that MAYBE they can wind up regular dudes. Not in jail. Not dying. Shit... forget about the US. How about the rest of the world? His childhood was BEYOND blessed compared to what millions face across the planet.
This is a guy who entered the top 1% of wealth in his early 20's and got to do it playing football for a team we would all give our left nut to play on for free. I'm supposed to feel horrible because he suffered a knee injury? One that will heal, I might add... Feel bad because he ALMOST did something with a gun and bag of crack? Because he had a single mom who raised three boys... etc...?
Maybe some here haven't suffered or seen hopelessness before. However, I am actually semi-insulted by this"woe is me" Tarik Cohen article. Go live Tarik Cohen's life, plus some, and have a mom you need/want to "save". Making much less, in a much less glorious fashion while having to do so.
God bless those who make it into Tarik's position in life. Go make every damn penny. You've earned it. Just don't cry to me about your life in the process...
Richie wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 8:47 pmYeah, must be horrible to sign a contract for millions at the age of 22. So you could play football for the Chicago Bears and be a star player.
I mean, the sheer and utter horror that must entail.
Look, his injury is unfortunate, but it's quite a charmed life he has led. You know many human beings have worse than his childhood story? And their best case is that MAYBE they can wind up regular dudes. Not in jail. Not dying. Shit... forget about the US. How about the rest of the world? His childhood was BEYOND blessed compared to what millions face across the planet.
This is a guy who entered the top 1% of wealth in his early 20's and got to do it playing football for a team we would all give our left nut to play on for free. I'm supposed to feel horrible because he suffered a knee injury? One that will heal, I might add... Feel bad because he ALMOST did something with a gun and bag of crack? Because he had a single mom who raised three boys... etc...?
Maybe some here haven't suffered or seen hopelessness before. However, I am actually semi-insulted by this"woe is me" Tarik Cohen article. Go live Tarik Cohen's life, plus some, and have a mom you need/want to "save". Making much less, in a much less glorious fashion while having to do so.
God bless those who make it into Tarik's position in life. Go make every damn penny. You've earned it. Just don't cry to me about your life in the process...