Former New England Patriots fullback Kevin Turner died in March due to what was thought to ALS. It turns out, Turner didn’t have ALS, but passed away due to CTE.
Boston University announced the finding at a press conference on Thursday.
“This is not ALS; this is CTE,’’ Dr. Ann McKee, the director of BU’s CTE Center, said at a news conference attended by Turner’s parents and the families of other former National Football League players who were diagnosed with CTE after their deaths.
Turner’s father said the NFL could do more to protect players safety from brain damage, admitting ““It’s a big-money thing, I realize that. But they can make it safer.’’
The degenerative brain disease has become more and more prevalent among retired NFL players. Turner’s father is right – the NFL needs to take more steps to prevent brain damage and make the game safer. Entertainment shouldn’t trump players lives.
CTE debilitated Turner so badly, to the point where it was mistaken and ALS and ultimately cost him his life. His passing should serve as a reminder to the league to do better.
[Boston Globe, Image via SI.com]
