NFL Players to Donate Brains to Research

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice and New York Giants kicker Steve Weatherford said Tuesday they plan to donate their brains to medical research after they die. The two made the announcement to coincide with Brain Injury Awareness Month and with the hope that more pro football players will step forward and help further brain research. The Super Bowl-winning Rice, who is 27, retired from the National Football League last July due to concerns about the effects of taking so many jolts to the head. “A lot of my teammates and a lot of close friends have dealt with concussions and the depression that comes with that,” Weatherford added. “There’s a lot of issues that stem from brain injuries and it’s not just professional athletes. This affects everybody.”