Punky QB McMahon Would Play Baseball If He Had A Second Chance

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 27, 2012 8:40PM

Former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon spoke with Fox Chicago News' Lou Canellis Wednesday night about his battles with early-stage dementia, which he believes is a result of concussions he suffered during his playing days.

McMahon told Canellis he would play baseball if he knew about the dangers of concussion-related trauma and brain damage when he was younger, he would have chosen to play baseball instead of becoming the "Punky QB."

"That was my first love, was baseball, and had I had a scholarship to play baseball. I probably would have played just baseball," he said. "But football paid for everything, it still does. That Super Bowl XX team is still as popular as it ever was. Until they win again, we're gonna still make money."

McMahon is one of scores of former NFL players involved in a class action lawsuit against the NFL and helmet maker Riddell, Inc., claiming the league hid the links between concussion-related and other head trauma and permanent brain damage. McMahon told Canellis he isn't looking for financial damages from the lawsuit, only to raise awareness to the dangers posed by playing football. The family of former Bears safety Dave Duerson, who committed suicide in Feb. 2011 and left instructions for his brain to be donated to science, is also part of the lawsuit.

Slightly related: Head Games, the new documentary from Steve James (The Interrupters, Hoop Dreams) that looks at sports-related concussions, begins a run at the Siskel Film Center tomorrow.