The suicidal shooting by former New York Giant and Chicago Bear safety Dave Duerson in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida last week has led to new concerns about his experience with brain trauma from his playing days in the NFL, a growing concern with everyone in the game.
The New York Times reported in Monday's editions that Duerson had sent text messages to his family before he shot himself specifically requesting that his brain be examined for damage, as well as quoting another source saying that Duerson believed he might have C.T.E., an incurable disease linked to depression, impaired impulse control and cognitive decline.
Although the concerns about concussions and brain injuries have been obvious for years, only within the past 12 months have high ranking NFL officials (including Commissioner Roger Goodell) begun to seriously address the issue.
This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2011.