McKinley: Injury, gambling debt weighed heavily on player

[Northman]

Thanks to NFL.com for article: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...e=HP_headlines (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81c8fedb/article/knee-injury-gambling-debt-weighed-on-late-bronco-mckinley-?module=HP_headlines)




Detectives also determined that McKinley had spoken about suicide with at least three of his friends, including former Broncos backup quarterback Tom Brandstater. Brandstater told investigators he had lent McKinley $65,000 and that the receiver owed $40,000 in casino markers in Las Vegas.

[KCL]

wow..that news sheds a lot of what was going on in his life...sad deal really.

[Dirk]

Truly sad.

Stand up friend to loan him that much cash. I'm sure it's like $650 to we non-professional sports people. But still.

[scott.475]

Wow, God bless Brandstater for how he tried to help, as well as the other unnamed person who made the $40k loan.

[nevcraw]

Truly sad.

Stand up friend to loan him that much cash. I'm sure it's like $650 to we non-professional sports people. But still.

maybe for some but that's still a lot of cash for a late round pick who only got 124K signing bonus..

[Dzone]

wheres Brandstater playing? Miami? Too bad we didnt keep him and Hillis...Brady Quinn is all but forgotten on this team...anyway, kudos to Brandstater for being such a good friend.

[Superchop 7]

One in 5 pathological gamblers WILL attempt suicide. It has the HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE of any addiction. Look......IMO much in the same way we hold bartenders accountable.......casinos should be held accountable. Woody....Klis....anybody Please write the article.

[In-com-plete]

Such a sad story. And while it seems like a great thing Brandstater did, that's actually about the worst thing you can do besides co-sign a loan for someone.

[Foochacho]

One in 5 pathological gamblers WILL attempt suicide. It has the HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE of any addiction. Look......IMO much in the same way we hold bartenders accountable.......casinos should be held accountable. Woody....Klis....anybody Please write the article.

Accountable for what? His choice of killing himself? All they did was let the man gamble. He is a professional athlete they know he will come up with the money. It is not their fault if he chose to put himself in the hole, he was a grown man and can make his own decisions.

This is the type of bullshit that is wrong with the country. Everyone needs to realize they are responsible for their own actions and quit playing the victim. Quit blaming and relying on other people. The government will keep growing bigger and intruding more and more if we play the helpless victims and let them.

[Foochacho]

How does Brandstater even have the money to loan? He isn't banking like some of these other guys. His NFL career will most likely be short lived I think he should of held onto his money.

It's his choice though and he seems like a standup guy for helping a friend, he didn't know what may come of it all.

[GEM]

Such a sad story. And while it seems like a great thing Brandstater did, that's actually about the worst thing you can do besides co-sign a loan for someone.

You're right. He became his enabler. Though when you are in the thick of it, you really think you are helping the other person out. He did all of the other stuff well, having dinner with him continuously, trying to be a positive force in the others life. Unfortunately with addicts, that isn't the part they are clinging to, they go with the motions to get to the end result that they want, in this case the cash. Sad really. I commend Brandstater for trying, pretty mature for his age.

[PAINTERDAVE]

Truly sad.

Stand up friend to loan him that much cash. I'm sure it's like $650 to we non-professional sports people. But still.

Yeah.. I have always liked Brandy...
hope he gets a shot somewhere soon.
A very good friend indeed.

still... 65 grand is a ton of cash... to anyone.

Hope Kenny's tragic story serves to educate incoming rookies from here on out.