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Pitcock back  on NFL track

Piqua native realizes retiring from a pro career after just 1 year wasn’t a wise decision.

Ron Alvey Quinn Pitcock, a Piqua High School and Ohio State graduate, smiles during warmups in 2007.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Pitcock: ‘I refer to video games as my drug of choice’

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By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 11:24 PM Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Quinn Pitcock is trying to convince the Seattle Seahawks he has the skills to help their team this season. If he does, the Piqua native and former Ohio State star believes he can turn a pro-football career into a platform for helping others.

Three years removed from his shocking retirement from the NFL after just one year with the Indianapolis Colts, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle has been open to telling others why he walked away from the sport.

What started as a deep-rooted bout of depression and anxiety led to an addiction to video games. But after hitting rock bottom, he sought treatment and counseling and has regained his competitive edge.

“One of the troubles I had was being anxious and just unsure how people would take things,” he said. “With me being very open, it’s been therapeutic. And I’m surprised how well people listen and really want to hear about it and understand.

“It’s kind of a weird and unknown diagnosis — video-game addiction. It’s a newer generation kind of thing.”

Pitcock, 26, signed a free-agent contract with the Seahawks and has been in camp for about one month. His last audition will be in a preseason game against Oakland tonight, Sept. 2. Final cuts will be made Saturday.

“I’m having a blast,” he said. “The first time I was out stretching for a preseason game, I had a big smile on my face and said, ‘Why the heck did I leave this? What was I thinking?’

“But it happened for a reason, and I’m glad to be where I’m at right now. ... If this is the end of my career, I’m still happy I gave it a shot.”

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