BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Former Buffalo Bills star linebacker Darryl Talley told The Buffalo News that he is suffering from depression and has contemplated suicide in what he considers side-effects from his hard-hitting playing days.
The 54-year-old Talley said in an interview published in the newspaper Thursday that it would be "easy to call it a day." Talley reverses those thoughts by saying his parents didn't raise a coward and that he wants to be around for his grandchildren.
Talley says he has bouts of memory loss and has trouble sleeping.
Talley says he is unable to estimate the number of concussions he sustained during his 14-year NFL career.
"Too many to count," he said, noting there were at least 75 times he saw flashes of lights after being hit.
He also lives in constant pain as a result of 14 operations he had during his playing days to repair various injuries.
Talley spent 12 seasons in Buffalo, where he was part of an attacking defense that helped the Bills win four consecutive AFC championships from 1991-94. He then played for Atlanta and Minnesota before retiring after the 1996 season.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Talley's name is among those included on the Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Talley is also having difficulty making ends meet after the company he owned was forced to close during the 2008 financial crisis.
Former Bills teammates, including Hall of Famers Bruce Smith and Thurman Thomas, have provided monetary assistance to Talley and his wife to rent their home in Orlando, Florida. They also assisted in paying part of his daughter's college tuition.
In response to Talley's story, a Bills fan started a fundraising effort on Talley's behalf the day before Thanksgiving. The campaign netted $46,311 from 978 contributors in one day, with a goal of $100,000.
ESPN.com's Darren Rovell and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
