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In case you hadn't heard, Junior Seau was found dead today of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. It's eerily reminiscent of how former Bear Dave Duerson died. He also shot himself in the chest, but left a note explaining that he wanted his brain studied because he suspected he had a condition know as CTE that was essentially making his life excrutiating to live. He was later found to have been right and was posthumously diagnosed with CTE, a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma.
Eagles fans will of course remember how this also happened to Andre Waters, who after taking his own life, was found to have brain damage that doctors say was the result of concussions sustained during his career.
Now, we don't yet know whether this is what led to Seau killing himself and reportedly he left no note, but the awful similarities between his death and several other former NFL players is hard to ignore.
I just watched his mother holding a tear filled press conference yelling "please god take me, leave my son" and it had to be the saddest thing I've ever seen. I gotta be honest, if I ever have a son, I'm not sure I'd let him play football.
I'm not saying I can't watch or enjoy the game anymore and certainly I can respect the fact that adults can choose to do a dangerous job. But honestly, I'm not sure I can tolerate people saying the NFL is become too soft or like "flag football" because they're trying to stop hits the head. It's always going to be a dangerous game, but they've got to do what they can to try and prevent tragedies like this.
Feel free to share your thoughts. Has this changed your perspective at all?
Just as I write this, ESPN is showing his mother again. I honestly can't watch it.