Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynseworth is lucky to be alive. In a recent interview with 104.5 The Zone, a Nashville radio station, Haynesworth revealed that he almost died in November last year because he had two brain aneurysms that nearly ruptured.
"Nobody really knows, I almost died," he said in an interview via ESPN. "I had two brain aneurysms that were nearly rupturing. I went and talked to my doctor in Florida, and he was like, 'Man, your blood pressure is through the roof. I'm going to admit you.' They did a lot of tests and found the aneurysm that was rupturing at that point."
Haynesworth, who made Pro Bowls both in 2007 and 2008, said that after getting surgery he spent 11 days in intensive care in a Fort Lauderdale hospital. He was drafted the Titans with the 15th pick in the first round of the 2002 drat. He racked up 24 sacks in seven seasons with the Tennessee and signed a seven-year, $100 million free-agent contract with Washington in 2009.
"I've been OK. It's really hard to remember, and I'm not saying that just because of the concussion thing," he said, referring to the numerous NFL players who have admitted suffering from head trauma. "A lot of things, I just can't remember. I don't feel as sharp as I used to as far as problem-solving and answering questions and things.
"It sounds crazy, but sometimes, writing my own name, I kind of forget the signature of how I normally write. Or sending long texts, my words get backwards. It's crazy, but hopefully as time goes on, I get better."
Haynesworth enjoyed a 10-year NFL career, including two final seasons with Tampa Bay and New England before retiring. He adds in the interview that he doesn't want this to be a knock against the sport of football, but doesn't discount that him playing didn't have an effect on him, either.
"They can't say. They said I could have had it, but they said football definitely didn't help. I don't really know. I have no idea. I'm not a doctor," Haynesworth said via ESPN. "I don't want to blame it on football, and I don't want to say, 'Hey, it didn't have anything to do with it.'"
This probably won't help the current hostile climate the NFL is facing with head trauma and its presence throughout the league.
