Twitter: Former Cowboy Bill Bates struggling with dementia

jazzcat22

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Sad news. But it would be nice if a synopsis is posted along with the links. Sometimes fans are not in a place or situation to click the links and would be nice to have what is going on.

For those in that situation.

*If you have any “Thoughts & Prayers” handy, funnel them toward former Dallas Cowboys’ special teams trailblazer Bill Bates. Those close to his family tell me the 58-year-old is beginning to suffer debilitating effects of concussion-related dementia. Slowed, slurred speech. Headaches. Even trouble consistently rattling off the names of his five children.
 

foofighters

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Sad news. But it would be nice if a synopsis is posted along with the links. Sometimes fans are not in a place or situation to click the links and would be nice to have what is going on.

For those in that situation.

*If you have any “Thoughts & Prayers” handy, funnel them toward former Dallas Cowboys’ special teams trailblazer Bill Bates. Those close to his family tell me the 58-year-old is beginning to suffer debilitating effects of concussion-related dementia. Slowed, slurred speech. Headaches. Even trouble consistently rattling off the names of his five children.
Thank you!
 

quickccc

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- I had a grand feeling Broaddus was gonna end up on 105.3 at some spot or another.

I thought it was gonna end up being at Jessie Holley’s old Saturday morning spot, and on a full time basis.
But Broddus was so popular and appealing he ended up on a daily show. But since I knew he wasn’t leaving the DFW area, this is
where I figured he’d end up. I think the Dallas Cowboys podcast site shows really misses him, I have been listening less and less since his departure,
as I just can’t do Nate Newton and Hanging with the Boyz,

- And ever since Everson Walls was added to Talkin’ Cowboys, it’s been too boring and they always end up reminiscing the good old tom Landry days and
I don’t like Everson’s radio voice. its’ somewhat sleeping like. Doesn’t bring intrigue, appeal and energy the way Broaddus does.

- And if Jessie Holley is out as a Hanging with the Boyz co-host. Then what happened there to end that ?
Is the bridges too burnt for him to return to his old Saturday morning host spot at 105.3 the Fan radio ?

- My sympathies and prayers for the Bill Bates family. Another unfortunate added to the CTE related frightening game of the NFL.
And there’s no telling yet how many other more NFL players are also currently affected by the CTE scares but haven't been yet revealed.
That's why I can fully understand players such as Luke Kuehly, Patrick Willis etc. stepping down when such crisis arises.
 
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America's Cowboy

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sorry to hear Bill will always be one of the best Cowboys on and off the field
may the Lord bless him with a smooth and swift recovery.
Sadly, there is no recovery from this. Wish the government would take this more serious and get medical scientists to look more into finding some solutions to better counter the onset of any traumatic brain injuries.
 

CWR

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Sad news. But it would be nice if a synopsis is posted along with the links. Sometimes fans are not in a place or situation to click the links and would be nice to have what is going on.

For those in that situation.

*If you have any “Thoughts & Prayers” handy, funnel them toward former Dallas Cowboys’ special teams trailblazer Bill Bates. Those close to his family tell me the 58-year-old is beginning to suffer debilitating effects of concussion-related dementia. Slowed, slurred speech. Headaches. Even trouble consistently rattling off the names of his five children.

Awful. Man hes way too young for this crap. I feel for him and his loved ones.
 

maryquality

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I'm so sad to hear about Bill Bates. Bates is a class act, on and off the field!! I met him at a tailgate party a few years ago. He was signing autographs. There was an idiot Commander's fan in the line, and when he got up to Bill's table, he took off his Commanders cap and asked Bates to sign it! All the other people in line were booing and told Bill not to sign it!! He was a really good sport about it, and signed it anyway. When it was my turn to get Bill's autograph, I told him he was awfully nice to sign an "enemy" cap. He said, "oh well...I guess I have fans of all types!" LOL God bless you Bill. Praying for you and your family. :(
 

shabazz

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Sadly, there is no recovery from this. Wish the government would take this more serious and get medical scientists to look more into finding some solutions to better counter the onset of any traumatic brain injuries.

So many massive collision with Bates on Kickoff returns. I hate it but maybe the XFL kickoff style is the way to go. Steps have already been taken to protecting Qb's and it seems to be working.

Again, I don't like it, but if it can prevent this sad outcome, than what the hell.
 

Reverend Conehead

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The cost of playing in the NFL. It's terribly unfortunate.

Yes, that's the one and only thing that's made me consider no longer watching football. I feel bad that guys I loved to watch playing the game are suffering for it now. Tony Dorsett and Craig Morton are also experiencing negative effects. Same thing with some non-Cowboy players that I admired such as Jim Plunkett. I still watch the game, though sometimes I wonder if I should.
 

CouchCoach

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One of those that played during the "he just got his bell rung" period of the game. There are inherent risks within the game that really can't be prevented but at least they are armed with information before they proceed into it. They are still not policing the helmet as a weapon as they should but if they do, could be the end of the game. Most of the players I see leaving the field with head trauma, no flag was thrown. And many of these are by their own players but they are still leading with the helmet.

Bill Bates, what an Everyman player that could make us not think about the money or the negative parts of the sport, just a kamikaze turned loose trying to make the team every year. No Cowboy has ever milked his talent and wrung it out like he did. It was a privilege just to watch him play the game with all his heart.

It is sad to see Tony try to form sentences and I am glad they don't put Bill on camera but then again, shouldn't all players see that? It is one thing to hear about the risk but to see a man in his 50's struggling to remember the names of 5 of the most important people to his life.

This reminds me of the respect I felt for Chris Borland, the Niner that retired after receiving a concussion in his rookie year. He put something ahead of being a NFL star, his family and his future.

It has sure changed how I watch the game. I used to fist pump and jump up out of my seat when one of those helmet crashes would happen that you could hear on the audio. Now I cringe. I wonder if we're going to hear this same thing about Roy OU Williams in the future?
 

erod

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I noticed this about Bates many years ago in his speech patterns. You could tell something wasn't right. I think Tony Dorsett is experiencing this now, too.

I think the real issue for Bates was how many games he played fully AFTER already having a concussion. There were probably severe concussions that should have kept him out for months, and yet he played all those games on the kickoff teams.

Concussions on top of concussions. He played with that certain mentality that was necessary for a guy with his limited ability to stay in the league.

Tragedy. Praying for the Bates family.
 
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