Bears' Duerson shot himself; brain to be studied

Chicago Tribune ^ | February 19, 2011 | Dan Pompei and Duaa Eldeib

[ConservativeStatement]

Former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Tribune.

His death has been ruled a suicide, but the Miami-Dade police department has yet to make the information public.

Foul play was ruled out, in part because no one but Duerson was seen entering his condominium for two days before the shooting.

[Perdogg]

I guess his brain ended up like Andre Waters.

"Shortly after Waters' death, former Harvard defensive tackle and WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski, whose wrestling career was ended by post-concussion syndrome and has since written a book about the dangers of concussions in contact sports, approached Waters' family and asked permission to have his brain tissue examined. After receiving permission, Nowinski had samples of Waters' brain tissue sent to neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu at the University of Pittsburgh. Omalu believed, having examined the tissue, that Waters sustained brain damage from playing football: he went on to state that this led to Waters' depression.

Omalu determined that Waters' brain tissue had degenerated into that of an 85-year-old man with similar characteristics to those of early-stage Alzheimer's victims. Omalu said he believed that the damage was caused and/or hastened by the numerous concussions Waters sustained playing football. Additionally, Omalu said that Waters would have been fully incapacitated within ten years.

The NFL declined to comment on Waters' case specifically. A member of the league's mild traumatic brain injury committee,..."

[StAnDeliver]

One wonders if they went back to bed padding and leather helmets would it be better or worse?

Helmet-to-helmet was an outlier this season (ok I saw the bad one in the playoffs); but helmet-as-spear endemic. The only pall on an otherwise memorable season.

[jpl]

The physical pain and suffering some of these former NFL players probably endure on a regular basis has got to be almost unimaginable for regular people like us. Most minds and bodies just aren't designed to take this kind of brutal psychical punishment.

Between this kind of punishment and the pervasive performance enhancing drug culture that we now know has taken hold of pro sports over the last 15-20 years or so, I think that sadly we're going to be seeing lots more of these former pro athletes dying way before their natural time in the years ahead.

[StAnDeliver]

And Rest in Peace, Dave Duerson — at your prime you were one of the very best.

[kbennkc]

Almost all professional boxers suffer some brain trauma. If you ask then about it I suggest you do it on the phone.

[gusty]

Troy Aikman has stated that he feels that the sport of football has hit its high water mark in terms of participation. That from here on it will began fading away. He would not recommend that anyone allow their kid to play considering what is known now. He recommended that they should return to the equipment of 60-70 years ago. Tackling would be rugby like, thus reducing massive head injuries.

[nascarnation]

I’m excited to see some folks for auto racing get involved here. A lot of work has been done on helmets, neck support, and resilient crash walls. Bill Simpson is a pioneer in a lot of this:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110220/SPORTS0109/102200397/10-years-after-Earnhardt-died-safety-pioneer-Simpson-tries-aid-NFL-players?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

[oh8eleven]

He would not recommend that anyone allow their kid to play considering what is known now.
Now? I told my sons they could play any sports they wanted except football ... and that was in the 80s and 90s.
Why? Because of a stat I read where 50% of men who play football into college end up with an injury that lasts a lifetime.
Won't be long until the Ultimate Fighting jackasses start turning into zombies too.

[joelt]

Fencik and Plank used to blow up opposing players all the time; wonder if they are ok?

[Right Wing Assault]

no one but Duerson was seen entering his condominium for two days before the shooting

Are the neighbors doing 24/7 surveillance on all the guy's doors?

[Moonman62]

Some NFL players have agreed to donate their brains for study after their deaths. Zach Thomas is one of them.

Former Dolphin Zach Thomas to donate his brain to science for head trauma study

[Oldpuppymax]

Fencik and Plank used to blow up opposing players all the time; wonder if they are ok?”

Doug Plank-—a good Buckeye.

[The Good Doctor]

Post-concussion injury, brain-injury, dementia pugilistica call it whatever; it's got nothing to do with suicide. I have two former colleagues who killed themselves. Neither of them ever played football or got into a even a school yard brawl.

Professions with the highest suicide rates

[The Good Doctor]

try this instead:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/200908/the-occupation-the-highest-suicide-rate

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Eric Blair 2084]

This is the one case where I am 100% pro union. The NFLPA is different than taxpayer paid toll collectors.

They have a unique skill and they do a dangerous job for a private organization that makes 9 billion a year.