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DT Quinn Pitcock (official thread)

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Pitcock ignores call of his addiction
Ex-NFL player rebuilds his life and helps others after giving up video games
Updated: June 28, 2012
By Jemele Hill | ESPN.com

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Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Quinn Pitcock started one NFL ga thme fore Indianapolis Colts and played in eight others before quitting. Soon, he was playing video games 18 hours a day.

If Quinn Pitcock was a recovering drug addict, NFL teams would probably be less wary of him.

If Pitcock was an alcoholic, he wouldn't get strange stares or snickers after sharing his story.

Athletes battling drug and alcohol problems are a common occurrence.

Much less common is a player trying to resume an NFL career while recovering from an addiction to video games.

"I'm somewhat of a pioneer," Pitcock said.

Even though sports has a reputation for being a second-chance business, there isn't exactly a guidebook for what Pitcock, now a rookie defensive lineman with the Arena League's Orlando Predators, has been through since being drafted in the third round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.

If your first inclination was to laugh at the idea of a mighty football player being addicted to video games, realize Pitcock's addiction was like most in that the video games were just a way to cover up more significant issues.

The transition into the NFL was difficult for Pitcock, a standout at Ohio State. He was living in a new city, totally out of his comfort zone, and under a lot of pressure to perform.

The NFL isn't like college, where teammates bond through shared experiences. In the NFL, players have families, friends outside of football and other responsibilities. It's less like a slumber party and more like working at a mill.

Pitcock has always been an introvert. Rather than get to know Indianapolis and socialize, it was easier for Pitcock to make a video game controller his best friend.

"There were some issues," he said. "Maybe some mild depression. I'm the kind of person that avoids problems. Video games were my outlet."

cont...
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http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8108006/quinn-pitcock-video-game-addiction-masked-deeper-issues
 
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BTW: Quinn Pitcock
Orlando Predators DL Quinn Pitcock is healthy and poised for a breakout season in 2013.
Jan. 22, 2013
By RYAN MILLINOWISCH

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Pitcock recorded 4.5 sacks in 13 games as a rookie last season.
ARENAFOOTBALLDOTCOM

After having his rookie campaign cut short due to injury in 2012, Orlando Predators defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock is determined to help the Preds reclaim their position atop the AFL?s South Division. Recently, the Predator?s defensive lineman sat down with AFNation?s Ryan Millinowisch to discuss his injury, new Head Coach Doug Plank, and the outlook for the 2013 Orlando Predators.

RYAN MILLINOWISCH: Thanks for joining me today, Quinn. How are you feeling? Will you be ready for the season opener against the New Orleans VooDoo?

QUINN PITCOCK: Oh, definitely yes. I have been ready for a while now, even though I was only cleared to play this past month. I feel like I am physically ready now for football. Right now I am doing a lot of shoulder strengthening and I feel like I am stronger than I was last season.

RM: Have you set any personal goals for the 2013 season?

QP: Well, one thing that I have been doing is cutting weight. I have lost about 25 pounds now. Last year, I went in mainly playing nose tackle, but due to injuries, I ended up moving to end and had to be the speed guy. I actually did pretty well out there, but at 330 pounds I felt like I was still a little too big to play the end position. This year I wanted to get more speed and be able to get to the quarterback.

RM: There are many new players and a new coaching staff this season with the Predators. How do you feel that will affect the team and you personally?

QP: Last year the team last year had a lot of turnover with both players and coaches during the season. Throughout the season I had 13 different roommates. We didn?t have much team chemistry and camaraderie because we didn?t know who was going to stay and who was going to leave. I feel like Coach Plank is bringing in his guys and he is going to stick with them through thick and thin and I think we will have a really good team this year. We brought back six or seven core guys from last year?s team and hopefully we can get Orlando to where they are used to being, which is in the playoffs.

RM: What are you expecting from new head coach and fellow Buckeye Doug Plank?

QP: I am expecting everything. He is just a guy that fires you up. He has got that voice and demeanor that really gets you going. He turned Philly?s organization around and I can see him doing that here. I have talked to many Ohio State players that played under him during his time there and they all told me that he is a great coach and that I am going to love him. I am excited to work with him. Plus I know that he wants to stay in Orlando. He has changed his address and he?s moving everything to Florida so he is planning on staying there for a long time. I?m excited for that.

RM: What do the Predators need to do in order to have a successful 2013 season?

QP: In general, we need to improve in all areas. Defense needs to stop more, offense needs to score more and special teams needs to score more points off kick returns and stop the other teams kick returns. It just needs to be an overall thing. Just like in any football, we need to score more points than the other team.

RM: Is there any particular game that you are looking forward to?

QP: The game I?m most excited about is going back to Cleveland because I will get to see a lot of my friends and people from Ohio that I know will be able to come watch me play. It always exciting to have friends come see you play. Also going to Philly will be exciting because of Coach Plank?s history there. That game will be interesting and we will see how that works out.

RM: What are your expectations for the 2013 Predators?

QP: With the guys that we brought back, knowing how hard I took last season?s losses and with how hard we have been training, we should fair well. We are taking this challenge to a whole new level. We are all working extra hard so we don?t have a repeat of last season. I?m excited to see the determination and level of commitment of the players and the coaches.
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http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/012213aaa.html
 
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Ex-Colts player Quinn Pitcock opens up to Katie Couric about videogame addiction that ruined career
Posted: 05/01/2013

INDIANAPOLIS - A former Colts player is speaking out about a videogame addiction he blames for ruining his career.

Quinn Pitcock, a defensive tackle who played for Ohio State, was drafted by the Colts in the third round of the 2007 draft.

But he spent only one season with the team before retiring, citing depression and a serious videogame addiction he told Katie Couric began when he came to Indianapolis.

"When I realized it was when it was a physical need. It was no longer just a mental, 'Oh, I want to play.' It was, 'I don't want to play anymore,' but physically, I had to play. I could not stop."

The Colts helped Pitcock in his recovery, and he's now playing with the Arena League's Orlando Predators, with hopes of getting back into the NFL.

Pitcock and other gaming addicts share their stories with Couric on Wednesday's "Katie" at 3 p.m.
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http://www.theindychannel.com/sport...-about-videogame-addiction-that-ruined-career
 
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Pitcock injured

A shoulder injury has ended Orlando Predators defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock's season for the second year in a row.

Pitcock (6-3, 300), a former third-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2007 NFL Draft, tore the labrum in his right shoulder during a practice in mid-April.

"When I injured it, I knew right away," Pitcock said. "I felt it tear and couldn't lift my arm at all."

He underwent surgery in early May and recently began rehabilitation.

Pitcock sustained a season-ending injury to his left shoulder after 10 games in 2012, his first in the Arena Football League.

"It's been tough,'' said Pitcock, who has been placed on injured reserve. "Sometimes, I look at it like, 'Quinn, it's a sign you need to stop playing football. You're being stupid and stubborn.' But I still think I have some good years in front of me."
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http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...er-club-jacksonville-sharks-orlando-predators
 
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