Football\u2019s ramifications so concerned the former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson that, after deciding to kill himself last Thursday, he shot himself in the chest, apparently so that his brain could remain intact for similar examination.<\/p>\n
This intent, strongly implied by text messages Duerson sent to family members soon before his death, has injected a new degree of fear in the minds of many football players and their families, according to interviews with them Sunday. To this point, the roughly 20 N.F.L. veterans found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy \u201d\u201d several of whom committed suicide \u201d\u201d died unaware of the disease clawing at their brains, how the protein deposits and damaged neurons contributed to their condition.<\/p>\n
Duerson, 50, was the first player to die after implying that brain trauma experienced on the football field would be partly responsible for his death.<\/p>\n