Defensive back Ray Easterling's death on Thursday April 19^th has been ruled a suicide. He had played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1972 to 1979 and helped them secure the record for fewest points allowed in a season. When he retired from his football career, he began a financial services company in Virginia that was very successful. However, he was still suffering the effects of his former career. Even as early as 20 years ago, Easterling began to show signs of brain damage, long before the natural consequences of old age had set in.

Ray Easterling finally filed a lawsuit against the National Football League because of the way that they handled their players' concussions. His wife stated that it was a sad progression that lasted for 20 years. She said everyone could tell that he wasn't thinking straight. He would start to talk about one topic and then end up on a completely different one without knowing how he got there. According to the lawsuit, this was due to the fact that the NFL did not take steps to provide players with treatment for the concussions they received. They were also accused of attempting to hide the fact that football could lead to brain damage. The NFL, however, denies the fact that they tried to mislead players.

What has brought this into the limelight again was the death of Easterling. When he died on Thursday, his wife declined to give a cause of death. However, the police reported that it was a suicide. Mary Ann Easterling said that her husband's condition prior to his suicide was frightening. He could not remember something he had said five minutes ago and said it felt as though his brain was falling off. Not only that, but the pain he was experiencing was becoming more and more unbearable. Compared to how he used to be, able to memorize any number of plays, this was a hard situation to be in. Along with this were depression, insomnia, and dementia, proving to be too much for the once unstoppable defensive back.

Easterling was not the first NFL player to take their life after suffering through brain damage. Dave Duerson who played for the Giants and the Bears committed suicide only two months ago. In his note, he asked for his brain to be donated to Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. In the same note he stated that his memory loss and headaches had been increasing in the last 14 months because of his brain trauma.

This lawsuit was filed in August along with six other former NFL players but it remains to be seen what the outcome of this highly-publicized lawsuit will be. Mrs. Easterling has stated that she will continue to fight for her husband as well as everyone else who has been affected in this way. She said that allowing players to continue in a game after a head injury needs to stop or more lives will be destroyed. She also wants the NFL to create a fund for past players who now suffer from brain damage due to their involvement in the game.

Negligence in any area can result devastating consequences on the victims. Whether it is a work-related accident, a sports injury, or a slip and fall accident, the person or organization responsible should be held accountable for what they have done. If you have found yourself in this type of situation, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You could be entitled to compensation for what you have gone through.