Sometimes you wonder just how much one person can handle. Bucs defensive tackle Brian Price may be asking himself the same question after losing his third sibling to a tragedy. Price's sister Bridget was killed in a car accident last week, leaving behind two young sons – and a grieving brother.

When Price wasn’t seen on the practice field Tuesday for the Buccaneers OTAs, it raised a red flag. While no one suspected Price was blowing off the workout or was disgruntled, nobody could have ever imagined the scope of the tragedy that the former second-round pick was dealing with.

PewterReport.com spoke to Price’s agent, Chuck Price, who explained the circumstances behind the absence.

"There is just no way to explain the grief he's feeling as a result of this loss,'' Price, no relation to Brian said. "It's really taken quite a toll on him.

“He was ready to go with the OTAs (organized team activities) starting up on Tuesday, but between a complete lack of sleep and all that he has been dealing with from this loss, he just couldn't do it.”

Chuck Price said that mental and physical exhaustion landed Brian Price in the hospital from Monday until yesterday.

Price lost two brothers as a result of violence. At age 10, Price’s 18-year-old brother Eddie was killed a block from his family home in a drive-by shooting while walking to a bus stop in the L.A.'s Crenshaw district.

Then, just five years later, Price’s 24-year-old brother Damon was also shot and killed.

The second death really took a major toll on Price, and his schoolwork and grades slipped to the point he wasn’t even sure if he would make it into college. Price rebounded enough to earn a scholarship to UCLA where was a star defensive tackle for the Bruins, eventually ending up as the Bucs second-round pick in 2010.

A pelvic injury cut his rookie season short and landed him a quick trip on injured reserve. It was during that time Price contemplated quitting football altogether. Being 3,000 miles away from home, alone and unable to contribute to his football team, took a major toll on Price.

“The biggest thing was being on injured reserve and being so far away from his family and home,” Chuck Price said. “Brian really felt like he was on an island alone. He really wanted to contribute and prove his worth.

“And that is something that really bothered him about the latest situation. He was planning on participating at the OTAs. He never wants to let people down. Brian is a pretty private guy and doesn’t say a lot. But it bothers him that he has been hurt somewhat in his career. He never wants to let his teammates, fans or the organization down.”

Price isn’t letting his late sister down, as according to his agent he will take care of his two nephews who were left behind after the unfortunate accident that took their mother at the way too young age of 30.

"He's planning to adopt those two boys,'' Chuck Price said. "I've actually been assisting him with some of the legal stuff on that. Again, that's just the kind of guy he is.

"No one has been struck by more bad luck and personal tragedy than this kid. But he'll be stronger for it, because that's the way he is.