Seeking Relief, McHale's Life Took a Fatal Turn

McHale's ethic influenced many. Childhood friends viewed McHale's success as a slice of their own. On Sunday afternoons, some switched on their television sets and said: "Hey, that's my best friend out there! That's my best friend, Tom McHale!"

After retiring from the NFL, McHale settled with his wife in the Tampa area. He served as Tampa chapter president of the NFL Players Association's retired players division and opened restaurants -- McHale's Sports Pub and two branches of McHale's Chop House -- before going into real estate. He loved to barbecue and to relax by his pool at his upscale Tampa Palms residence.

For friends looking on from Washington, McHale had a dream existence: a loving family, friends' admiration and a successful career in and out of professional football.

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About three years ago, according to Margy, her brother was suffering from acute shoulder pain, another symptom of the body soreness that was a constant since his football playing days. His doctor prescribed oxycodone, a time-release narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine, to help him relieve the pain.

McHale later told Margy that his addiction to the medication was almost instantaneous.

Former NFL players such as McHale might face an increased risk for substance dependence because of their heightened exposure to medication, said Alex Stalcup, a doctor in Lafayette, Calif., who has treated current and former NFL players for pain issues.

"What makes me sad is that these guys give everything, and many of them know that they are hurting their bodies terribly," Stalcup said. "They get in trouble with pain medications, which are incredibly abundant in the locker rooms.

"Some of those guys will become dependent, and they are going to need specialized treatment from that point forward. From the group that becomes dependent, some of them are going to get addicted, and some of them are going to have terrible difficulty controlling their use, discontinuing their use. They'll be beset with craving for the drug. It's tragic."

Friends and family said they noticed McHale's personality change. He became sad, losing his zest for life.

Not long after McHale started using oxycodone, another Maryland friend, Patrick Gatons, visited him in Tampa. Gatons remembered long walks in the woods with McHale when they were classmates at Gaithersburg. Gatons considered McHale bright and introspective, someone who was cognizant of his life's direction.

But during this visit, McHale showed hints of his helplessness. McHale and Gatons drove together through the Florida neighborhoods where McHale had lived. At one point, McHale paused and asked Gatons if he was happy.