NFL to ask its players to donate brains for study

[Auggie]

And now for one of the odder sports headlines in recent weeks....

(12-21-09, Associated Press):

The NFL is partnering with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league's stance on concussions, The Associated Press learned Sunday.

The league now plans to encourage current and former NFL players to agree to donate their brains to the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, which has said it found links between repeated head trauma and brain damage in boxers, football players and, most recently, a former NHL player.

"It's huge that the NFL actively gets behind this research," said Robert Cantu, a co-director of the BU center who has spoken negatively about the league in the past. "It forwards the research. It allows players to realize the NFL is concerned about the possibility that they could have this problem, and that the NFL is doing everything it can to find out about the risks and the preventive strategies that can be implemented."

<snip>

The league also will contact the nearly 100 retired football players who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia and are receiving benefits from the league to ask their families to consider donating those players' brains to the BU study. Cantu noted that three current NFL players — Cardinals wide receiver Sean Morey, Ravens center Matt Birk, and Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu — already agreed to donate their brains for research after death.

MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/20/sports/s075825S04.DT

[joeybee12]

1. And that headline leaves itself open to FAR too many punchlines! n/t

[PRETZEL]

2. good for them,

hopefully strides can be made to prevent what has happened to many football players,

If this can help stop what happened to Mike Webster then it is a good thing.

http://www.pabia.org/Survivor%20Tales/mike_webster_tribute.htm