Former NFL guard Conrad Dobler can't recall children's names

Conrad Dobler, who once was labeled "pro football's dirtiest player" by Sports Illustrated, said he is suffering memory loss that likely stems in part from head trauma suffered during his 10-year pro career.

“I have six kids, I don’t even know their names,’’ Dobler told USA TODAY Sports. “It kind of pisses me off because I prided myself on having such a wonderful memory.’’

For example, Dobler said, as a kid he helped his father with a food distributorship.

“My dad would make up the order and he’d give me a list of the things we needed — 20 cases of half gallons of milk, 30 cases of quarts, yep-dep-dep down the list,’’ Dobler said. “I could go out there and fill the order without a mistakes. Now, I probably couldn’t find the truck.’’

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Dobler said he’s undergone neurological testing to determine if he’s suffering from Alzheimer’s or any other brain disease, but the tests were inconclusive.

Although he still runs a company that provides flu shots, Dobler said he has lost motivation.

“I really don’t give a (hoot) about anything other than my score on the golf course,’’ he said. “That’s the only time (memory loss) really works, is if I can’t remember how many strokes I have when I get to the hole. It’s always a lot less than I actually have for my score.’’

An offensive guard, Dobler was a three-time Pro Bowl selection who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1972-77, the New Orleans Saints from 1978-79 and the Buffalo Bills from 1980-81.

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Dobler is the latest notable football player disclosing symptoms that have raised awareness of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which can result from repeated head trauma experienced in football.

But Mark Ashley, an expert in traumatic brain injury, recently told USA TODAY Sports that with retired football players in Dobler’s age group it can be difficult to determine whether the cognitive problems resulted from concussions or aging.

In addition to suffering countless blows to the head, Dobler said he has had numerous knee surgeries but appreciates how the fame from his football career has enhanced his life.

“I get first-class treatment and that’s pretty nice,’’ he said. “If I didn’t play football, I’d be in the cattle trucks with the rest of the folks.’’