NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Tennessee Titans tight end Frank Wycheck is a friend of mine who jokes that I only have a job co-hosting "The Midday 180" on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville because he liked me so much as a regular guest on his show, "The Wake Up Zone".
Wycheck is now 45, a few years younger than I am. I know his ex-wife and daughters. I'm still on his show with Mark Howard and Kevin Ingram as a guest once a week, Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m. CT.
My colleagues and I know he deals with the leftovers of an 11-year, 155-game NFL career. He was not a giant, but was a productive player with an understanding of coverages who had the trust of quarterback Steve McNair and a real knack for getting open.
But he took a lot of shots to the head and suffered too many concussions. He just got a special ergonomic chair for our studio to help his neck and back issues, problems that typically keep him from completing a round of golf.
He's got a great vacation deal at work, but he also calls in sick a lot and misses a lot of shows. And it’s difficult to know that he's often hurting and dealing with residual issues of football.
I confess to also wondering if he plays it up, if it's sometimes convenient to lean on a headache as a way to miss a commitment or a shift, if my friend is damaged but also manipulative.
We spoke for about 20 minutes Monday evening.
He sounded good, though he said he didn't recall exactly what he said 10 or 14 days ago when he sat down for an interview with the Nashville Fox affiliate, WZTV. In that interview he fleshed out stuff he's hinted at or joked about in small doses on his show over the years, and he said he is sure he has CTE, the degenerative brain condition.
He told me he is scared that maybe, one day, he will snap, as others who've suffered similarly have snapped, leading them to commit suicide.
It's a chilling thing to hear from anyone, even if you've already worried about it -- and even if it, sadly, isn't a complete surprise.
I told him the same thing I've said before, and the same thing I know common friends and co-workers have said: If there is anything I can do to help, just let me know. I'm with you in this; a lot of us are.
"It's almost like there is a brick wall before you go out the door," Wycheck said, addressing what he's talked about on the air as social anxiety.
I admittedly haven't tried to climb the wall from this side, and for that I feel guilty and embarrassed.
It's time for more action, though I am not sure exactly what that action needs to be or how to give it if it's against his will or wishes. I hope he will solicit my help, or somebody's. Whether he does or not, I'm compelled to solicit yours.
Wycheck just said he's scared, that he's afraid that at some point he might snap, as other frequent concussion sufferers have, and conclude suicide is the way to go.
Me, his other friends from work, his pals from elsewhere, have to join his family and find ways to ensure that doesn't happen.
