A new begining for Underwood - The Orange Mane

Atlas · 05-26-2005, 04:10 AM

A new beginning
Troubled former first-round pick Underwood joins CFL
Posted: Tuesday May 24, 2005 5:43PM; Updated: Tuesday May 24, 2005 5:48PM

By Michael Farber, SI.com

A happy ending is hardly assured, but there is a promising new beginning in the compelling, confounding saga of Dimitrius Underwood.

Underwood, the former NFL defensive lineman who suffers from bipolar disorder, has signed with the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Renegades. The CFL long has welcomed a rogue's gallery of talented but troubled players -- Mark Gastineau, Dexter Manley, Lawrence Phillips and Andre Rison all tried to revive moribund careers in Canada, attempts that ranged from mild to spectacular failures -- but no import ever carried as much baggage as Underwood, a first-round draft pick by Minnesota in 1999.

His professional football résumé is littered with more arrests and suicide attempts than sacks in his one-and-a-half seasons with the Dallas Cowboys -- four -- but Renegades director of player personnel Chris McRobbie considers Underwood a worthy risk.

"We've investigated bipolar, and I know more about his health than I do my own. And I spoke to contacts in the NFL who all told me the same thing: 'The kid can play, a definite talent,'" McRobbie said of the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder who signed a one-year contract plus a club option for "CFL money," more than the $38,000 (Canadian) minimum but nothing approaching six figures. "There's an opportunity for us to have a potentially dominant defensive lineman. And there's the opportunity for him to have fun back in his life."

Underwood has been incident-free since April 2004. Most critically in the mind of his agent, he has returned to Prolixin, the medication he takes for bipolar disorder.

Since leaving a psychiatric facility in Dallas last spring -- at least his third stay in a mental-health hospital -- Underwood has been working out with speed-and-conditioning trainer Russell Flanigan. Flanigan called Scott Casterline, an agent, several weeks ago to inform him of Underwood's remarkable progress; Casterline subsequently took on Underwood as a client. "I looked in his eyes and saw good in there," said the Dallas-based Casterline. "He'd lived through all kinds of hell, but his life is coming back. Maybe one day he'll be back in the NFL, but right now if football pans out, it's the icing on the cake." According to the agent, the medication along with a support group that includes family, a spiritual advisor, a psychiatrist, his trainer, Ottawa receiver Bashir Yamini and himself should make the difference in Underwood's often pained life.

Underwood was drafted as a potential difference-maker by the Vikings, 29th overall, but seemingly he never had much fun in pro football from the first day. After one training camp practice with Minnesota, he quit, announced his intention to join the ministry and returned a $1.75 million signing bonus. One month after the Vikings released him, Underwood signed with the Miami Dolphins.

Like his aborted career with the Vikings, the former Michigan State star never played a regular-season down for the organization. Underwood injured his shoulder in the '99 preseason and while rehabbing in Lansing, Mich., during a September bye week, he was arrested for non-payment of child support for his then 17-month old twins. Hours after being released from jail, police found Underwood in the street, bleeding from self-inflicted knife wounds to the throat. Apparently he had tried to kill himself because he believed the world was going to end with the beginning of the new millennium.

Another suicide attempt would follow in January 2001, two weeks after his first NFL season, with Dallas. He reportedly ran into traffic on a Florida highway twice, telling police he "wanted to go to Jesus." Underwood had been detained after kicking a car and asking passing motorists for a gun.

Underwood also was arrested twice in November 2002, once for punching a police officer during an altercation and later on charges of robbing a paraplegic person in a wheelchair. After returning to court following a stay in a psychiatric facility, he received five years' probation for assault on a public servant and one year deferred adjudication for aggravated robbery of a disabled person. Underwood wound up back in a psychiatric hospital 13 months ago after Dallas police officers were forced to use pepper spray to drag him into custody when he refused to move from his stalled car that was blocking southbound traffic on I-35. He left the hospital within 24 hours.

"We're certainly aware that some of these 'experiments' in the CFL didn't work out," McRobbie said. "We know that if he didn't have what he has, he would still be playing in [the NFL] ... He's not going to be given anything here. He has to compete for his job. But we know his condition is treatable, and we plan to help him."

Ottawa players are scheduled to report May 28 and start practice the following day.

Atlas · 05-26-2005, 04:10 AM

I think Denver should sign him

watermock · 05-26-2005, 05:19 AM

That was another headscratcher draft pick by Dennis Green.

Beantown Bronco · 05-26-2005, 06:37 AM

I was a little worried that this was gonna be an American Idol thread....

KillerBronco#76 · 05-26-2005, 08:36 AM

One of my freinds is Underwoods cousin, he says that guy is real screwed up, he has Bipolar and hallucinates and stuff, suppossedly his dad wont even talk to him because he's embarressed by him. Its actualy kinda of a sad story but he should just take his meds, then he wouldnt be so messed up, so it actualy is his fault.

Jason in LA · 05-26-2005, 08:46 AM

With all those crimes that guy shouldn't be on the steets. How low can you be to rob a guy in a wheel chair?

Atlas · 05-26-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

With all those crimes that guy shouldn't be on the steets. How low can you be to rob a guy in a wheel chair?

Not only a guy in a wheel chair but a paraplegic person in a wheel chair. That is embarrassing.

Atlas · 05-26-2005, 11:13 AM

I remember when Minnesota drafted him. He was a real workout warrior. He had had numerous problems already and Green was criticized right from the start. Needless to say the criticism was founded.

RaiderH8r · 05-26-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlas

Not only a guy in a wheel chair but a paraplegic person in a wheel chair. That is embarrassing.

This would be hilarious if it weren't true.

Having said that, how did this guy not catch on in Oakland? Maybe he's relegated to being just one of the fans out there. He needs a much longer rap sheet to catch Greasy Al's eye...but I would think robbing a parapalegic in a wheel chair gets him bonus on the street cred.

05-26-2005, 04:10 AM	#1
Atlas Draft Defense Early&Often Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18,526	A new begining for Underwood A new beginning Troubled former first-round pick Underwood joins CFL Posted: Tuesday May 24, 2005 5:43PM; Updated: Tuesday May 24, 2005 5:48PM By Michael Farber, SI.com A happy ending is hardly assured, but there is a promising new beginning in the compelling, confounding saga of Dimitrius Underwood. Underwood, the former NFL defensive lineman who suffers from bipolar disorder, has signed with the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Renegades. The CFL long has welcomed a rogue's gallery of talented but troubled players -- Mark Gastineau, Dexter Manley, Lawrence Phillips and Andre Rison all tried to revive moribund careers in Canada, attempts that ranged from mild to spectacular failures -- but no import ever carried as much baggage as Underwood, a first-round draft pick by Minnesota in 1999. His professional football résumé is littered with more arrests and suicide attempts than sacks in his one-and-a-half seasons with the Dallas Cowboys -- four -- but Renegades director of player personnel Chris McRobbie considers Underwood a worthy risk. "We've investigated bipolar, and I know more about his health than I do my own. And I spoke to contacts in the NFL who all told me the same thing: 'The kid can play, a definite talent,'" McRobbie said of the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder who signed a one-year contract plus a club option for "CFL money," more than the $38,000 (Canadian) minimum but nothing approaching six figures. "There's an opportunity for us to have a potentially dominant defensive lineman. And there's the opportunity for him to have fun back in his life." Underwood has been incident-free since April 2004. Most critically in the mind of his agent, he has returned to Prolixin, the medication he takes for bipolar disorder. Since leaving a psychiatric facility in Dallas last spring -- at least his third stay in a mental-health hospital -- Underwood has been working out with speed-and-conditioning trainer Russell Flanigan. Flanigan called Scott Casterline, an agent, several weeks ago to inform him of Underwood's remarkable progress; Casterline subsequently took on Underwood as a client. "I looked in his eyes and saw good in there," said the Dallas-based Casterline. "He'd lived through all kinds of hell, but his life is coming back. Maybe one day he'll be back in the NFL, but right now if football pans out, it's the icing on the cake." According to the agent, the medication along with a support group that includes family, a spiritual advisor, a psychiatrist, his trainer, Ottawa receiver Bashir Yamini and himself should make the difference in Underwood's often pained life. Underwood was drafted as a potential difference-maker by the Vikings, 29th overall, but seemingly he never had much fun in pro football from the first day. After one training camp practice with Minnesota, he quit, announced his intention to join the ministry and returned a $1.75 million signing bonus. One month after the Vikings released him, Underwood signed with the Miami Dolphins. Like his aborted career with the Vikings, the former Michigan State star never played a regular-season down for the organization. Underwood injured his shoulder in the '99 preseason and while rehabbing in Lansing, Mich., during a September bye week, he was arrested for non-payment of child support for his then 17-month old twins. Hours after being released from jail, police found Underwood in the street, bleeding from self-inflicted knife wounds to the throat. Apparently he had tried to kill himself because he believed the world was going to end with the beginning of the new millennium. Another suicide attempt would follow in January 2001, two weeks after his first NFL season, with Dallas. He reportedly ran into traffic on a Florida highway twice, telling police he "wanted to go to Jesus." Underwood had been detained after kicking a car and asking passing motorists for a gun. Underwood also was arrested twice in November 2002, once for punching a police officer during an altercation and later on charges of robbing a paraplegic person in a wheelchair. After returning to court following a stay in a psychiatric facility, he received five years' probation for assault on a public servant and one year deferred adjudication for aggravated robbery of a disabled person. Underwood wound up back in a psychiatric hospital 13 months ago after Dallas police officers were forced to use pepper spray to drag him into custody when he refused to move from his stalled car that was blocking southbound traffic on I-35. He left the hospital within 24 hours. "We're certainly aware that some of these 'experiments' in the CFL didn't work out," McRobbie said. "We know that if he didn't have what he has, he would still be playing in [the NFL] ... He's not going to be given anything here. He has to compete for his job. But we know his condition is treatable, and we plan to help him." Ottawa players are scheduled to report May 28 and start practice the following day.

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05-26-2005, 05:19 AM	#3
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090	That was another headscratcher draft pick by Dennis Green.

05-26-2005, 06:37 AM	#4
Beantown Bronco Athletic Supporter Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mass Posts: 19,119 Adopt-a-Bronco: Matt Prater	I was a little worried that this was gonna be an American Idol thread....

05-26-2005, 08:36 AM	#5
KillerBronco#76 Perennial Pro-bowler "The Beast" From the east Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 899	One of my freinds is Underwoods cousin, he says that guy is real screwed up, he has Bipolar and hallucinates and stuff, suppossedly his dad wont even talk to him because he's embarressed by him. Its actualy kinda of a sad story but he should just take his meds, then he wouldnt be so messed up, so it actualy is his fault.

05-26-2005, 08:46 AM	#6
Jason in LA Gimmie that rep fool! Speaking of Butts & Boob Mojo Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: LA Posts: 12,254	With all those crimes that guy shouldn't be on the steets. How low can you be to rob a guy in a wheel chair?

05-26-2005, 11:13 AM	#8
Atlas Draft Defense Early&Often Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18,526	I remember when Minnesota drafted him. He was a real workout warrior. He had had numerous problems already and Green was criticized right from the start. Needless to say the criticism was founded.