Former NFL player Dave Duerson commited suicide near the end of Febraury. Before he had signed up so that when he died his brain would be used to study the effect concussions had on athletes and the seriousness of them. Duerson thought that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy which is a disease brought about due to multiple concussions. There could be other underlying reasons to why Duerson committed suicide. He had filed for bankruptcy recently before his death which probably didn't help.
Overall this is a very sad situation that a man decided to take his own life so his brain could be used to possibly help others. Now football is a violent game and that is one of the reasons it is popular. The violence has been somewhat romaticized in it. The NFL had put out a greatest hits tape earilier. ESPN used to do a segement called "Jacked Up" to show some of the biggest hits from that week in the NFL. People like seeing the violence. Something must be done to protect the players from suffering from concussions. They can try to make the helmets better so the head will be better protected. Also maybe improve the rest of the equipment. They have already put rules in place to try and eliminate hits to the head. The talk of the 18 game season sort of contradicts the concern the league has for the players. The need to wake up before it's too late.
To find out more on the story here: http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/02/duerson-suicide-brain-study/
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