ex-NFL player shoots himself in chest to save brain for research

[EggzOverEazy]

Dave Duerson believed that a degenerative disease was ravaging his brain, a result of years of hits in the NFL, and that this disease was the cause of his depression. So when the former Chicago Bears safety and 4-time Pro Bowler committed suicide in his Florida home on Thursday, he chose to shoot himself in the chest, rather than the head, because he wanted to leave his brain untouched for neuropathologists to examine.

Then, at least, maybe their findings would spark the type of conversation Andre Waters’ suicide did in 2006. At the time, no one could understand why Waters, the former Eagles safety, would want to kill himself. But after examining the remaining parts of Waters’ brain, a scientist claimed that his NFL-induced brain damage is what led to his depression, and then his death.

In the days leading up to Duerson’s suicide last week, he told family members via text that he wanted his brain preserved for science. Duerson, a staunch advocate for former player issues, had also told a friend that he may have CTE, an incurable brain disease that leads to “depression, impaired impulse control and cognitive decline.”

The New York Times notes that Duerson had a successful post-NFL career in the food industry, but that in recent years things had not gone so well. After being charged with assaulting his wife in 2005, he resigned from the Notre Dame board of trustees. In 2006, he auctioned off most of his assets. In 2007, he divorced his wife, and their home went into foreclosure.

His decision to kill himself, his specific request to have his brain examined for damage, and his belief that his Pro Bowl career was the cause of his depression, has startled many of the current and former NFL players interviewed by the Times.

“Oh my God — he might have been aware of what was happening to himself?” the former Giants running back Tiki Barber said when informed of the circumstances. After taking a moment to collect himself, Barber continued: “It feels like this was calculated and thought-out to some extent. It was almost with a purpose.”

It’s doubtful the purpose of Duerson’s suicide was to shed light on player safety issues in the NFL. It’s likely that his declining financial situation and crumbled marriage had a lot to do with that. But his decision to shoot himself in the chest, instead of the head, means Duerson himself may have believed that the game of football was partly responsible. The test results on Duerson’s brain, I would expect, will be out in the next few months. Expect the NFL Player’s Union to be keeping a close eye on them.

source: Dave Duerson | Suicide Shot In Chest | SportsGrid

[Covst]

What the F... not surprised though. All these rich people do some weird things.
A bunch of millionaires are cryogenically frozen...

[Steves1191]

What the F... not surprised though. All these rich people do some weird things.
A bunch of millionaires are cryogenically frozen...

what reference do you have to support your claim?

[SICK WIT IT]

that crazy. i couldnt do that

[calixrated23]

prolly one of the most smartest things i heard about for a suicide

[DanOpi]

I've heard of CTE before and it sounds like a really creepy thing to have. It's just that you get depressed for no apparent reason and you just act out of what you normally would. It seems like they just get lost and don't feel like living in the world anymore.

[cyrax]

What the F... not surprised though. All these rich people do some weird things.
A bunch of millionaires are cryogenically frozen...

I don't understand why you categorize him in the "rich guy category" when clearly the article states multiple times that he was in financial straits (did you even bother to read it?) He isn't a "rich guy," and very few of the guys who played before the 90's are. For those who are wealthy and played prior the 90's, it sure as hell isn't their money from their career, most of them went on to do things in the business world. Guys back then didn't make the huge bucks, and they played with far less rules to protect their safety, it was even more violent back then. I understand fully why these guys are pissed off with the way they are treated, their bodies are battered up, and the NFL does nothing to take care of them. I think after all the money they made the NFL that the least the NFL could do for them is make sure they have enough money to afford a decent living after they retire. Remember, these aren't the salary whores like we have dominating today, guys back then played for the team. It's totally sad to hear stories about all the horrible pain these guys live in, both mentally and physically. After they put themselves on the line, made the NFL a ton of money, they are left quite often physically damaged, and mentally distaught. On top of all that they are often unable to support themselves from the physical toll, and therefore lose it all. The NFL sits there and basically gives them the big "fuck you" and does nothing to help them. They can't even give them a decent pension plan? Like wtf. I understand in many ways why players are so fucking greedy now and want all the money they can get upfront, because they know their careers can end at any moment. They see how all these past NFL players get fucked over, and know they better have plenty of money stacked up, so they can afford to live if something catastrophic happened to end their career. There is story after story of this kind of exact thing happening, and yet no matter how many people it happens to, the NFL doesn't give a shit still. I'm not surprised though, this is America, the country where we don't even care about our veterans, and don't bother to help them out after they are mentally and physically sick from war time damage.

[LanceArmstrongtruck]

He took his life to save another. nothing wrong with it. stop, hating is bad.

[Jay62107]

He took his life to save another. nothing wrong with it. stop, hating is bad.

There is something wrong with it he could have tried to get help through it while letting Dr's know what he is going through and he could have possibly saved Seau and future victims of the disease and the same with Seau he could have gotten help if not for himself for the next man in his position.