(IMAGE SOURCE: tampabay.com )

BY MARY McGUIRE

Tennessee Titans wide receiver O.J. Murdock died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday, according to police in Tampa Bay. Here’s CNN with more.

“The Titans say Murdock missed last season with an Achilles injury and that he had not reported to training camp. O.J. Murdock was 25 years old.”

NFL News reports the Titans “indicated Murdock was absent from training camp for ‘personal reasons.’”

After the tragic news broke, an outpouring of condolences came from Murdock’s current and former teammates.

Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck  tweeted a picture of Murdock’s empty locker with the words “RIP O.J.”

This is the second suicide of a high-profile football player in less than a year. Legendary linebacker Junior Seau died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest in May. WTOC reports.

“Even before word of Murdock’s death, the National Football League was launching a new mental health initiative this week. NFL Life Line is an around-the-clock crisis support line for both current and former players - and their families.”

Sports Illustrated writes “Murdock’s death lead to the same questions … asked high school and college players took their lives... Did Murdock suffer from concussions -- diagnosed or undiagnosed? Did those concussions cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or brain damage?”

But a blogger for the Tennessean says a long string of career frustrations preceded Murdock’s death.

“Murdock still had high hopes of getting his career … on track at Pearl River, but when he broke his collarbone during the first week of practice ... and many of the bigger schools recruiting him backed away ... The torn Achilles on the first day of [Titans] training camp in 2011 was yet another blow to Murdock’s aspirations.”
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/07/30/o-j-murdocks-past-shows-string-of-frustations/

Murdock was found alone and severely wounded with a gunshot in the parking lot of Middleton High School in Tampa, his alma mater. He died later at the hospital.