Bear's Dave Duerson's death ruled suicide

[tony hipchest]

how sad for his friends and family. he wants his brain dontated for post concussion study.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/R...911/?GT1=39002

The death of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson was ruled a suicide by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner, WMAQ-TV in Chicago reported Saturday.

Duerson was found dead Thursday night at his home in Miami. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner said he died from a gunshot wound to the chest.


In a text message he sent to loved ones before his death, Duerson asked that his brain, particularly the "left side," be left for NFL researchers who study chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease common to boxers, football players and others who experience multiple concussions and head injuries.

"NFL players are at high risk for CTE," said Chris Nowinski, co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University School of Medicine.

Nowinski said Duerson donating his brain for study was "an incredible selfless contribution to medical research."

Duerson, 50, starred at Notre Dame and played for the legendary Bears defense that powered the team to a victory in Super Bowl XX. He was elected to four straight Pro Bowls from 1986-89 and also won a second Super Bowl with the 1990 Giants.

The news of Duerson's untimely death was met with shock from his former Bears teammates.

"When we spoke recently, he sounded great," former Bears defensive back Shaun Gayle said. "It's a real shock to all of the guys."

Duerson set a record -- later broken by Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson in 2005 -- for most sacks in a single season by a defensive back, with seven.

"He was a hell of a football player," former Bears coach Mike Ditka said Friday. "He came in at the right time for us because that's when Todd Bell held out. He fit right in, became a starter. We liked everything about him at Notre Dame. He rounded out that defense. He fit in perfectly with Gary Fencik back there and was one of the leaders of our team."

Duerson is survived by four children.

kinda strange reading it was a "selfless act" to leave his brain intact when he left 4 kids behind.

[steelerchad]

Interesting that he texted friends and family about saving his brain for research just before he took his own life. This looks bad for the NFL and concussions. I don't know what kind of physical or mental pain the man was in, but if CTE contributed to his suicide then this is a nightmare for the NFL. It's also the reason the NFL took the hard line on head shot hits this past season. I was not happy with the way games were officiated this season, but something like this makes you stop to think at least.

[Atlanta Dan]

Mr. Duerson's corpse had not been cold for long when Alan Schwarz, who runs the football causes brain damage bureau for The New York Times (I'm not kidding - it is about the only subject the guy writes on - http://topics.nytimes.com/top/refere...inline=nyt-per) had a story up on this

As a longtime force in the N.F.L. players union, Duerson, 50, was keenly aware of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease linked to depression, dementia and occasionally suicide among more than a dozen deceased players. He had expressed concern in recent months that he might have had the condition, said one person close to him who spoke on condition of anonymity. ...

There also is a question as to whether the disease derives from a career in pro football or simply from many years of playing football at any level.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/sp...ef=alanschwarz

You never know what sort of pain someone is going through to kill themselves, but Duerson had major financial reverses and his marriage had dissolved - there is the possibility he did not have football related brain damage that contributed to his decision to kill himself - but rather than wait for Duerson's test results the NYT jumps on personal tragedy right now to push its agenda on this subject

If the examination results show brain damage Schwartz will write a series of articles - if not this is the last we will ever read about Mr. Duerson in the NYT

[Atlanta Dan]

Three stories for three straight days on Dave Duerson in the NYT - the late Mr. Duerson is getting as much pub this week as Qadaffi in The Times.

Before Suicide, Duerson Said He Wanted Brain Study
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/sp...l?ref=football

N.F.L. Players Shaken by Duerson’s Suicide Calculation
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/sp...ef=alanschwarz

Family Tries to Interpret Duerson’s Final Act
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/sp...n.html?_r=1&hp

Think the NYT might have an agenda it is pushing here? You can bet Goodell is not happy to be reading about this again in his hometown paper

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

If the examination results show brain damage Schwartz will write a series of articles - if not this is the last we will ever read about Mr. Duerson in the NYT

The examination results for Dave Duerson show brain damage attributed to repeated blows to the head = no shock the NYT has another story up

The suicide of the former Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson became more alarming Monday, when Boston University researchers announced that his brain had developed the same trauma-induced disease recently found in more than 20 deceased players....

About two dozen retired N.F.L. players have been found to have the disease, known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, but none acted upon his suspicion of it like Duerson, 50, who complained to family of his deteriorating mental state during his final months.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/sp...tml?ref=sports

This is grim news for football, which could end up being regarded like boxing