“Confused” Arron Sears Wandering Tampa Streets
November 13th, 2010
Joe honestly never thought he’d write about troubled former Bucs offensive lineman Arron Sears again.
Joe was wrong.
Sears, who mysteriously disappeared from the Bucs due to what is believed to be a mental health disorder — the Bucs guarded the condition as if it was a stash of black market Russian nuclear warheads — was arrested in Tampa today described as “confused” and “wandering” the streets of Tampa, so reports Chad Cookler of WFTS-TV.
According to the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office, Sears was very confused when he was found walking down the middle of the road in the 7900 block of Gunn Highway around 3 p.m.
Deputies planned to Baker Act him but found Tampa Police had an outstanding warrant on Sears stemming from a June incident, where he had been charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, a third class felony.
Per the report, Sears is behind held on $2,000 bond.
This is disturbing to Joe. First he beats up a cop, and now he’s roaming the streets of Tampa “confused.” This guy needs help.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:27 am
This is really too bad. I wonder if we’ll ever find out what’s wrong with him. I don’t know about Aaron Sears as a person, but he was a very good football player, and it’s too bad to see him end up this way. Hopefully he can get the help he needs.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:32 am
Arron Sears almost certainly has a schizophrenic spectrum disorder. I have a brother in law with schizophrenia and once had a friend who developed it. Sears doing things like declining to speak to people verbally and writing things on paper are a clear sign of this type of disorder. Its sad because there really is not much help for these disorders outside of spending your life sedated by antipsychotic medications with dangerous side effects.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:36 am
Sad story.
I wish people wouldn’t use the police terminology to describe a situation.
Battery on a LEO could be that he TOUCHED a LEO. It doesn’t necessarily mean that he “beat up a cop”. I’m sure if an ex-NFL player beat the hell out of a TPD officer, we’d hear about it.
Much like the Jerramy Stevens “possession with intent to sell”. All that means is that he buys his weed by the Ounce. People think he was selling weed on the street like in The Wire.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Yeah FGO- One thing people have to understand is that if Arron does have a schizophrenia type disorder or even sever bipolar disorder, then he is experiencing delusional thoughts and\or hallucinations. If he had an altercation with the police he was most likely scared and not experiencing the reality of the situation whatsoever so its not like he’s just some immoral person who attacks cops. He may not have even had any clue he was dealing with cops.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:45 am
So sad… I hope he gets the help he needs. I feel so sorry for the bashing he has had to endure when obviously he has a mental disability.
November 14th, 2010 at 1:15 am
Man this is just sad. I feel very bad for this guy.
November 14th, 2010 at 2:04 am
Thanks for doing such a well job on your homework Gruden!!!
November 14th, 2010 at 5:49 am
Sorry to read this about Sears.
I HOPE someone forwards a copy of this to Tanard Jackson and that TJ gets some help before he too winds up like Aaron.
November 14th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Wasn’t there an offensive lineman for the Raiders who did this same sort of thing before the Superbowl against the Bucs ? I believe he got help and got better. Man this is just a sad story.
November 14th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Smitty..Yes, I think it was their center.
November 14th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Barrett Robbins
November 14th, 2010 at 9:40 am
I still don’t understand why the NFL doesn’t do anything about players with problems, no help at all. I served in the Army and is we took care of all Soldiers from the minute they got to basic training until they left the Army. Why can the NFL do something like it? This guys have put their bodies on the line since HS, for most of them, without getting paid a dime. They need to start taking care of all the players with the help of the universities which by the way make tons of money from them as well.
Sad story and at least I hope the community can help this young men turn his life around. Father Dungy where are you?
November 14th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Really a shame. He was the answer at LG. More importantly, he needs help. I feel really bad for Sears. I agree with the earlier posts that the NFL should do something to help players like Sears. Maybe the NFL should put efforts into helping current players & former players instead of things like having teams in Europe.
November 14th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Really sad. Hate to hear this kinda news. I hope he gets the help he needs.
November 14th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Fire Greg Olsen, you are absolutely right ! The Police in Tampa and the HCSO GROSSLY overcharge people on a daily basis! A little bit of weed for personal use becomes possession with intent to sell instead of simple possession and just touching a Cop becomes Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. The Cops do this to get an easy conviction to what the charge should have been when they plea bargain.
Too bad about Aaron Sears, he was a great football player.
And K_Bassuka, this community don’t care about turning anyone’s life around, we lock up hundreds of fellow Americans addicted to drugs or Alcohol, and offer treatment to very few of them.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:00 am
This is a very sad story. It is also an indictment of the NFL for not helping current or past players with problems. Sears was a great O-lineman when he was healthy. But reading this only insures us that the NFL is only concerned with lining the pockets of the owners, not helping those that made them that money.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I wouldnt exactly say the Raiders helped their Center :(. Sounds like they found out he had an issue then cut him and he DEFINITELY did not end up well… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barret_Robbins
November 14th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Amar Says:
November 14th, 2010 at 2:04 am
Thanks for doing such a well job on your homework Gruden!!!
Dude, don’t use this guy’s unfortunate circumstances as an opportunity to hammer Gruden. Many times, the onset of a severe thought or mood disorder can happen anywhere from late teens to late 20’s. It stands to reason that Sears’ illness didn’t present itself until after he was a Buc. We just don’t know.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
So why doesn’t Tony Dungy help this guy? I mean he had no problem helping the convicted dog killer who also sold drugs and was tested positive just before going to jail. And didn’t he have a water bottle with weed residue going through the freaking airport?
Why would Dubgy help him but not Aaron Sears?
November 14th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Buc You
To be fair, Dungy helps who ever he chooses to. I think this falls more on the NFL as a whole, I mean I’ve seen other sports at least attempt to help their former players, but not the big bad NFL thats a joke and it needs to be fixed so the players get the help they need.
November 14th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Sears is in Tampa wondering around, Dungy lives in Tampa… Dungy needs to get his butt out there and help that freaking guy.
Problems with the law, Check.
Ex-NFL player, Check.
Wandering around Tampa, check.
Dubgy lives in Tampa, check.
Could result Dungy in glorified saviour… meh, probably not because Sears is beyond damaged to make a comeback.
Maybe the last point is why Dungy wont help him out… there is nothing in it for Tony!
November 14th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
What a disappointment… I mean a trade was on the the table the year the Bucs drafted Sears to send the first and both second round picks to Detroit for their first round pick. This equals Gaines Adams(RIP), Sabby The Goat and the very confused Aaron Sears for Calvin Johnson. Damn what might have been Oh well
November 14th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
What’s even more odd/concerning is that he was wondering around in Tampa’s most famous mental patients (Crazy Chris) back yard.
November 14th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
K Bassuka says, ” I served in the Army and is we took care of all Soldiers from the minute they got to basic training until they left the Army. Why can the NFL do something like it?”
Is that why more soldiers commit suicide than die in combat?
http://revolutionarypolitics.com/?p=4081
Over 6000 soldiers committed suicide just last year and the list is expanding daily.