NFL, Teams Offer Support for Players in Crisis Brady Quinn can't help but wonder whether he missed something in the final days of Jovan Belcher's life. Could the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback have listened better to his teammate? Could he have noticed a change in the linebacker's temperament? Did Belcher utter something under his breath that may have let on that he was capable of killing his girlfriend and himself? When you ask someone how they're doing, do you really mean it? Quinn wondered. When you answer back, are you really telling the truth? The murder-suicide last Saturday raised similar questions among players and coaches across the NFL. In an era in which physical safety is of paramount importance, it's become clear that ensuring the emotional well-being of the men who play the game is just as essential. "The relationships you have with people face-to-face, on a daily basis, kind of get brushed aside for everything else that's out there," Quinn said. A lot of times people hide their issues, their problems. They don't talk to anyone until it's too late. This past July, the NFL established an emergency hotline that operates 24 hours a day and connects players, staff and family members in crisis with mental-health professionals who are not affiliated with the league or its teams. The group, which provides a similar service to the Veteran's Administration, is required to keep its conversations confidential unless the individual calling indicates they may harm themselves or others. Robert Gulliver, the NFL's chief human resources officer, said "absolutely, players and staff are taking advantage of the opportunity" provided by the hotline. Gulliver couldn't say whether Belcher had called, citing its confidentiality policy, and could not provide any data that indicates how much it is being used. But Gulliver did say that what happened to Belcher may cause the NFL to consider more offerings in the future. "Mental health continues to be, in general society, an area that often has a stigma attached to it," Gulliver said. We're trying to change that culture and break down that stigma and show people that mental is part of total health. That stigma is pervasive in the NFL, where a macho culture has been long ingrained. In numerous interviews with current and former players, The Associated Press found many who said they would refuse to seek support for various reasons. Maybe their issues would get back to their coaches and affect their playing time or their contracts. Maybe their teammates would view them differently. Several players indicated that the same attitude that carried them to the NFL - that in some ways they are indestructible - makes it difficult for them to reconcile needing outside help. "In all my years playing football, I've never really seen a guy come out and say he needed help with this or he was having issues with this," said Rams offensive tackle Wayne Hunter, who's in his ninth year in the league. Guys, including myself, generally keep our personal issues to ourselves. Hunter said that when he was with the Jets, he took advantage of a team psychologist who provided support. Otherwise, he leaned on teammates. "It was nice to have another set of ears other than the team psychologist," Hunter said. The psychologist analyzes and sometimes over analyzes - I'm talking generally speaking - and they give you what they think is a right answer. But going to a friend gives you another perspective, gives you his side and a more personal side.