Former Detroit Lions WR Titus Young didnt have a horrible NFL career from a numbers perspective. However, as he serves a four-year prison sentence in Southern California, Young believes a long history of concussions has led him to his current fate.
He had 81 receptions for 990 yards and 10 touchdowns in two seasons for the Lions before his release in February of 2013 following multiple confrontations with teammates and coaches. He was picked up by the St. Louis Rams days later, but was cut by them as well for what was reportedly similar behavioral concerns.
Since his playing days ended five years ago, and prior to his incarceration, Young accumulated at least 25 criminal charges including 10 for assault or battery in Southern California, according to the Los Angeles Times. His most recent charges were assault with a deadly weapon and felony battery – which are the ones that landed him in the California Rehabilitation Center last year.
Young is also concurrently serving a two-year sentence for a separate battery charge around the same time.
Young received treatment at multiple psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, per the L.A. Times. Doctors at UCLAs Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital diagnosed Young as bipolar, while Crosby Centers psychologist Robert Knol later testified that Young suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) before his sentencing last April.
My fight or flight in my brain was off and that could be due to head trauma suffered while playing football, Young wrote in a diary obtained by the L.A. Times. All I know now is Im back to normal and I take good medication and Im not ashamed of it either.
Its kind of hard for me to think wisely in sticky situations where I feel threatened. Taking the medicine allows my mood to be stabilized and helps with hearing voices. Yeah, I have heard voices, as well. The voices came and came from the bipolar. Its usually when I let my brain relax and focus on others. I can kind of hear them.
Young is eligible for parole in March and has expressed his desire to return to playing professional football.
