Well, young feller, back when we played football without facemasks, cleatmarks on foreheads weren't that uncommon, but brain damage was. And neither of these things are blatantly implied as far as I can see. Does Ruckley say 'fuck the wife' because he misses her, or because he hates her? The former seems unlikely, and the latter would fit but poorly with the Idea that he holds a picture of her at all times. I do give the reader some credit, I credit the reader with not making questionable assumptions.