Former Tennessee RB Charlie Garner (1992-93) recently sat down with Pat Yasinskas of The Sporting News for a feature that will sadden many Vols fans. Long removed from a 11-year career in the NFL, Garner is financially stable, and a proud father, but he tells Yasinkas that he fears he is suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), the brain condition linked to numerous former football players due to repeated hits to the head.

“I don’t have all my faculties anymore,” Garner said. “I can’t remember things. When I go to the mall or grocery store, I have to take one of my kids with me to remember where the car is parked. I have trouble remembering conversations I had five minutes ago. Bright lights bother me. I just don’t feel right all the time.”

CTE can only diagnosed post-mortem, but Garner seems to be dealing with many of the symptoms. His doctors fear that he has the condition, which can lead to dementia, depression and Alzheimer’s.

Garner, who estimates he played with “at least a dozen concussions a year,” compared living with the condition to the late boxer Mohammad Ali:

“The doctors say it could get worse. One doctor told me that if Muhammad Ali was up here (Garner said raising one hand as high as possible) and the average person is here (holding his other hand near the table), I’m right about in the middle. That didn’t make me feel very good.”

Garner’s youngest son, also named Charlie and nicknamed “C4,” is already a standout basketball star, but has not yet played organized contact football. If C4 does play football, Garner has one position in mind which may be safer.

“No, it’s his choice all the way,” Garner said of whether he would stop his son from playing football. “He’s old enough to hear some of the things about concussions. Maybe when he gets into high school, he might want to play. I won’t stop him and I’ll support him.

“But I’ll encourage him to play defensive back and do everything I can to keep him safe. But, if he doesn’t want to play, that will be fine with me.”

The full feature can be read here.