Bills' Poyer opens up about past alcohol addiction after 1 year of sobriety
Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer shared an inspiring story Saturday about a personal battle off the field, opening up about his struggle with an alcohol addiction one year after giving up drinking.
A year ago today (3/13/2020) I decided to quit drinking. Not because of anything special. Like Lent or a New Years resolution. But because I was an alcoholic. I'm writing this knowing there are others out there like me that realize they too need help. My first step was realizing I had a drinking problem. Cause I did. I couldn't drink just to hang. When I drank I had to drink to get F'd up. I used alcohol to avoid all my issues in real life. My family, my job, my friends ... when I drank I could forget all of my issues. I didn't have to deal with them face on.
After we lost to (the) Houston (Texans) in 2019, I felt I didn't play the way I wanted to and we lost in such a bad way that for the next 5 weeks after that game I drank every damn day. Stressed about my contract, stressed with family, stressed about life I just didn't know any other way to cope. My wife had seen it first hand and honestly if it wasn't for her (and) the consistent support from my family and friends idk where I would be. I remember days she would cry because I just couldn't put a beer down. I remember not being able to play with Aliyah cause I was too intoxicated. I remember feeling thoughts in my head; that would scare the hell out of sober me now.
I finally decided to take a few trips to (Alcoholics Anonymous). My mom told me it helped her. Never spoke in them. Just took 3 trips and listened. I realized my issues were not even close to other's life issues. Those 3 meetings plus the support from my family; In particular my wife Rachel, I was able to change my life and see the light. Can't lie even writing this, I'm embarrassed, it's shameful, but If I can overcome the struggle of alcohol, so can you.
The Bills suffered a playoff overtime loss to the Texans after giving up a 16-0 second-half lead in the wild-card round to end their 2019 campaign.
Poyer spent the last four seasons with Buffalo and started all but one game during that span. The 29-year-old inked a two-year extension with the team in March 2020.
The veteran defensive back entered the NFL as the Philadelphia Eagles' seventh-round pick in 2013. Poyer was cut just three games into his rookie campaign and signed with the Cleveland Browns later that year, where he played until 2016.
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