OT: Ref responsible for 'Fail Mary' suffers from PTSD, severe depression

[Brian in Mesa]

Ref responsible for 'Fail Mary' suffers from PTSD, severe depression

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...m-ptsd-severe-depression/ar-AA86bSZ?ocid=iehp

Most fans have moved on from the 2012 controversial replacement referee saga that became defined by the infamous call known as 'Fail Mary.' But for one ref involved, life hasn't been the same since.

You might remember Lance Easley, who famously signaled for a touchdown when Golden Tate and M.D. Jennings simultaneously wound up with the ball in the end zone during a game between the Packers and Seahawks on "Monday Night Football." Seattle won the game and the photo of Easley's upright arms next to line judge, who made the exact opposite call, became the punch line to jokes about the NFL and its referee strike for months to follow.

In the aftermath of it all, including death threats and never-ending criticism from all directions, 'Fail Mary' has taken a heavy toll on Easley's life. So much so that he says he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is constantly fighting severe depression.

“It’s almost like a funeral,” he told Yahoo! Sports in a lengthy feature on his life after the call. “I felt like I didn’t want to be here anymore. I never acted on it. It was horrible to have those thoughts. I hated having those thoughts.”

Easley, 55, had been a vice president with Bank of America who enjoyed officiating at the high school and Division III levels before signing up to fill in for the NFLs striking referees in 2012.

But two years later, he carries a sad story.

He's sought help via counseling and psychiatric centers, only to succumb to a pattern of relapses and suicidal thoughts. He and his wife of 28 years separated this year. His bout with PTSD includes constant panic attacks and a fear of leaving his house. He has taken a medical leave of absence from his job to deal with it all.

"Health, finances, marriage. If you have trouble in one of those it can be tough," he said. "I have all three."

:safe:

 

[BigRedRage]

wow, over that? People come back from war without PTSD and he has it over making a bad call?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Part of me thinks: "Stop being such a wuss!" While the other part of me feels bad for the dude. Death threats are way beyond the pale.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

wow, over that? People come back from war without PTSD and he has it over making a bad call?

I hear you but empathy, dude. One man's mole hill is another's mountain.

People are cruel, and aggressive these days.

Guy has wife, house, and health problems, and I doubt he is "faking it".

Just sayin'

 

[BIGRED1959]

stress triggers different reactions in every single person. Just because someone comes back from war without PTSD doesn't mean that sets the precedent. Unfortunately for this man it has affected his entire life and it seems like he was on the brink of suicide. Not a laughing matter, prayers to his family.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Part of me thinks: "Stop being such a wuss!" While the other part of me feels bad for the dude. Death threats are way beyond the pale.

Only a "wuss" wouldn't confront their problems, and seek help for them.

See A Football Life: Brandon Marshall.

 

[BigRedRage]

I hear you but empathy, dude. One man's mole hill is another's mountain.

People are cruel, and aggressive these days.

Guy has wife, house, and health problems, and I doubt he is "faking it".

Just sayin'

Don't think he is faking it, just amazed something that minor can be treated that major.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I gotta think that death threats can be pretty stressful.

 

[BigRedMO]

Man up!!!!!!!!!! He is a VP for BOA so financially is very secure. If you want to feel regret than feel regret at how many hundreds of thousands your bank has screwed over with the home loan fraud and that they still are hosing with their eagerness to foreclose instead of working to keep the borrower in the house. Plus it is a football game. I used to be a ship driver/engineer divo in the Navy and dealt with the possibility of my judgements causing deaths. Football is a game. Get over it. Worst case is he admits he made a mistake and and is the worst referee in the world. It does not make a hill of beans difference in his job in banking and him as a person. As a matter of fact if he is a lender use it as an ice breaker with customers and laugh it off. No one lost their life. Nobody is perfect. He was in a tough situation and did the best he could. Dont put more importance on it then it deserves. His bigger problem is he works for BOA. I could not sleep if I worked for BOA. Deal with that problem. It unlike the disputed call is something that he can fix and could make him feel better about himself and the disputed call.

 

[TRW]

This falls in the "until you walk a mile in another's moccasins" category to me. No one knows his situation in its totality, the call may simply be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

Judging him, mocking him or disparaging him is simply not cool IMO. Our society has become one of no compassion or sympathy. Really sad.

Hope he finds peace.

 

[NJCardFan]

Man up!!!!!!!!!! He is a VP for BOA so financially is very secure. If you want to feel regret than feel regret at how many hundreds of thousands your bank has screwed over with the home loan fraud and that they still are hosing with their eagerness to foreclose instead of working to keep the borrower in the house. Plus it is a football game. I used to be a ship driver/engineer divo in the Navy and dealt with the possibility of my judgements causing deaths. Football is a game. Get over it. Worst case is he admits he made a mistake and and is the worst referee in the world. It does not make a hill of beans difference in his job in banking and him as a person. As a matter of fact if he is a lender use it as an ice breaker with customers and laugh it off. No one lost their life. Nobody is perfect. He was in a tough situation and did the best he could. Dont put more importance on it then it deserves. His bigger problem is he works for BOA. I could not sleep if I worked for BOA. Deal with that problem. It unlike the disputed call is something that he can fix and could make him feel better about himself and the disputed call.

Thanks for politicizing this man's life.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Man up!!!!!!!!!!

Could not disagree more with this, but to each his own.

 

[BIGRED1959]

Man up!!!!!!!!!! He is a VP for BOA so financially is very secure. If you want to feel regret than feel regret at how many hundreds of thousands your bank has screwed over with the home loan fraud and that they still are hosing with their eagerness to foreclose instead of working to keep the borrower in the house. Plus it is a football game. I used to be a ship driver/engineer divo in the Navy and dealt with the possibility of my judgements causing deaths. Football is a game. Get over it. Worst case is he admits he made a mistake and and is the worst referee in the world. It does not make a hill of beans difference in his job in banking and him as a person. As a matter of fact if he is a lender use it as an ice breaker with customers and laugh it off. No one lost their life. Nobody is perfect. He was in a tough situation and did the best he could. Dont put more importance on it then it deserves. His bigger problem is he works for BOA. I could not sleep if I worked for BOA. Deal with that problem. It unlike the disputed call is something that he can fix and could make him feel better about himself and the disputed call.

clearly you are just pissed off at BOA and used this mans struggles to politicize your agenda.

 

[Ronin]

I feel bad for him.

 

[clif]

Man up!!!!!!!!!! He is a VP for BOA so financially is very secure. If you want to feel regret than feel regret at how many hundreds of thousands your bank has screwed over with the home loan fraud and that they still are hosing with their eagerness to foreclose instead of working to keep the borrower in the house. Plus it is a football game. I used to be a ship driver/engineer divo in the Navy and dealt with the possibility of my judgements causing deaths. Football is a game. Get over it. Worst case is he admits he made a mistake and and is the worst referee in the world. It does not make a hill of beans difference in his job in banking and him as a person. As a matter of fact if he is a lender use it as an ice breaker with customers and laugh it off. No one lost their life. Nobody is perfect. He was in a tough situation and did the best he could. Dont put more importance on it then it deserves. His bigger problem is he works for BOA. I could not sleep if I worked for BOA. Deal with that problem. It unlike the disputed call is something that he can fix and could make him feel better about himself and the disputed call.

I think the point is he isn't the one who should man up. Its the people that are making death threats and constantly harassing him and his family over a damn game. That's not his problem nor are the problems of BofA.

 

[TJ]

Man up!!!!!!!!!! He is a VP for BOA so financially is very secure. If you want to feel regret than feel regret at how many hundreds of thousands your bank has screwed over with the home loan fraud and that they still are hosing with their eagerness to foreclose instead of working to keep the borrower in the house. Plus it is a football game. I used to be a ship driver/engineer divo in the Navy and dealt with the possibility of my judgements causing deaths. Football is a game. Get over it. Worst case is he admits he made a mistake and and is the worst referee in the world. It does not make a hill of beans difference in his job in banking and him as a person. As a matter of fact if he is a lender use it as an ice breaker with customers and laugh it off. No one lost their life. Nobody is perfect. He was in a tough situation and did the best he could. Dont put more importance on it then it deserves. His bigger problem is he works for BOA. I could not sleep if I worked for BOA. Deal with that problem. It unlike the disputed call is something that he can fix and could make him feel better about himself and the disputed call.

I'll spare you my professional take on PTSD, but instead, do me a favor and do some reading on it and find out how and why it manifests in humans. It is not limited to situations such as war, natural disaster, or anything other "significant" event. It is more prevalent than you may imagine. It's easy to say "man up" and expect it to go away. I'm glad you believe you have that outlook on life for yourself.

I guess it's one of those "walk a mile in their shoes" situations. His financial situation is not valid in this equation

 

[ARZCardinals]

IF you read the article RATHER THAN JUST THE HEADLINE - He says he's fine now...it was a rough time, but he's found coping skills.

Man it's amazing how many people reply to an article after only reading the headline.

 

[Linderbee]

IF you read the article RATHER THAN JUST THE HEADLINE - He says he's fine now...it was a rough time, but he's found coping skills.

Man it's amazing how many people reply to an article after only reading the headline.

I have no clue where you got that from the article.

 

[BigRedRage]

I have no clue where you got that from the article.

me either.

Maybe because the guy wrote a book and is promoting it on MSN?

 

[Southpaw]

Steve Bartman.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/sports/baseball/10-years-later-a-cubs-fan-remains-invisible.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

[BurqueCardFan]

Yeah, the guy writes a book and is looking to promote. Very convenient. The point is, he is a VP of a bank and a ref on the side. I think this guy's problems pale in comparison to lots of other people in this country. You made a bad call, deal with it.

 

[Hollywood]

I have neither sympathy or empathy for this guy.

 

[speedy]

I think it's pretty lame to broadcast your problems through a press release. I'm sure it did bother him: who wants to be considered incompetent and have drunken rabid fans talking ish to you? PTSD can be the result of many instances within the human experience, but too let a part-time job give you that level of stress? And then air it out in a press release? Spare me. I don't care.

 

[Houdini]

There is no excuse to making death threats towards the guy, and that is the only thing I feel bad about towards this guy. Otherwise, most Packer fans are way past this. The thing that bugs me about the guy is that he will never admit that he made a mistake, and that he writes a book about it. Admit you made a mistake and move on. We have. Don’t write books about it you don’t want to be reminded about it.

 

[cardpa]

Mixed thoughts on this one. Part of me agrees with other to just get over it. One call in a part time job should not normally affect you like that. Yet the death threats could weigh you down, however I doubt he has gotten any over the last couple years.

Normally you would think of some one who is a VP for a large bank to be mentally tough and he appears not to be so. It does make you wonder how he ever executed his job duties at the bank.

I see it as something that was very real then, but now is being used as a avenue for gains unknown to us. You could come up with a lot of maybes, what ifs, etc. in this story.