Former Gamecock WR And Denver Bronco Found Dead

Carolina Kat Tue Sep 21, 2010 4:19 am

Broncos WR Kenny McKinley found dead in apparent suicide

By Joey Bunch and Lindsay H. Jones
The Denver Post[/url]

Posted: 09/20/2010 07:14:54 PM MDT
Updated: 09/20/2010 09:59:30 PM MDT

Former Gamecock WR And Denver Bronco Found Dead 20100920__broncos_mckinley~p1_300

Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead Monday at his Colorado home in an apparent suicide, police said.

"It was apparently a suicide, but we're still investigating," Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said.

Authorities were called to McKinley's home in central Centennial at about 3:25 p.m. Monday. McKinley's body was discovered in a second-floor bedroom with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The 23-year-old, second-year pro has been on the team's injured reserve list since early August with a knee injury. He played in eight games as a rookie in 2009, mostly on special teams, with seven kick returns for 158 yards. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second-to-last game of last season and had surgery in the offseason.

The Broncos will hold a full team meeting Tuesday at Dove Valley to discuss McKinley's death. Grief counselors will be available at the facility for any players who want help.

"Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room," coach Josh McDaniels said in a statement Monday night. "This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

An NFL source told The Denver Post that McKinley had been in Atlanta visiting family recently but had returned to Denver on Sunday along with his young son.

"Kenny, he had a big heart, a love for life. It's just very shocking," said Andrew Bondarowicz, McKinley's agent. "I'm really at a loss for words."

McKinley finished his collegiate career at the University of South Carolina as the school's career leader in receptions and receiving yards. But he was never able to match his college success in his brief NFL career, in part because of injuries. His second stint on the injured reserve had been particularly difficult.

"It's a difficult situation, you go from being a super star in college and his pro career has been a challenge," Bondarowicz said. "These guys, they're made of steel on the outside, but for a lot of them, the challenge of being at your best and living up to all the expectations is a difficult situation. Some people are better equipped and have the support system."

McKinley was also recently in Columbia, S.C., where he watched his alma mater play the University of Georgia on Sept. 11. McKinley holds the South Carolina school records for receptions and receiving yards. He was announced to the crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium and received a large applause.

"I saw him here. He came to the Georgia game. He seemed in good spirits," South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier told The Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier Monday night. "He had a great smile, like he always had. I don't understand it, if happened the way they say. It's hard to comprehend.

"Kenny was certainly one of my favorite all-time players," Spurrier added. "He was one of them. He was a wonderful guy. It's hard to figure out how, or why, this happened. He's one of my all-time favorites — everything about him. He had a wonderful smile. It's a sad day."

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said in a statement:

"Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos' family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends."

McKinley is the third active Broncos player to die in the past four years. Running back Damien Nash, 24, collapsed and died after a charity basketball game in December 2007. And cornerback Darrent Williams, 24, was killed in a drive-by shooting on New Year's Day 2007 in Denver.

Kenny McKinley bio

Age: 23
Dimensions: 6-feet, 183 pounds
College: South Carolina
Drafted: Fifth round by Denver (141st overall) in the 2009 draft

NFL highlights:

Second-year wide receiver who played eight games with the Broncos as a rookie in 2009

Returned seven kickoffs for 158 yards (22.6 avg.) along with three punts for 32 yards (10.7 avg.) — the only rookie in the NFL to average at least 22 yards on kickoff returns and 10 yards on punt returns in 2009

College highlights:

Started his final three seasons at the University of South Carolina

Earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior in 2007 and honorable mention all-conference accolades as a senior in 2008

Carolina with 207 receptions and 2,781 receiving yards

jagator Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:57 pm

WTF? Would make a 22 year old guy with all that going for him do that? Very sad.

Former Gamecock WR And Denver Bronco Found Dead

Former Gamecock WR And Denver Bronco Found Dead

Re: Former Gamecock WR And Denver Bronco Found Dead