Eugene Monroe retires, admits fear of CTE

Earlier this year, the Baltimore Ravens decided to part ways with offensive tackle Eugene Monroe after he expressed his advocacy of marijuana use in the NFL. Now, it looks like he is putting his future and family first and calling it a career after just seven years in the league.

Eugene Monroe spoke out about marijuana use and he said that it should be allowed for medicinal use in the NFL as it has multiple benefits. One disease that it is believed to combat is CTE.

The offensive tackle wrote a post on The Players’ Tribune and talked about his decision to retire. He admitted his fear of the disease and it being the main reason for his retirement.

From the post: “I’m only 29 and I still have the physical ability to play at a very high level, so I know that my decision to retire may be puzzling to some. But I am thinking of my family first right now — and my health and my future.

The last 18 years have been full of traumatic injuries to both my head and my body. I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. Has the damage to my brain already been done? Do I have CTE? I hope I don’t, but over 90% of the brains of former NFL players that have been examined showed signs of the disease. I am terrified.”

It is a sad and scary time in the world of sports when players are voluntarily ending their careers early due to the possible fear of getting a disease. Maybe this will inspire the NFL to look more into the possibility of using medicinal marijuana into the future.

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