Police: Junior Seau found dead at California home

WABC-TV--New York—May 2, 2012

Junior Seau, a homegrown superstar who was the fist-pumping, emotional leader of the San Diego Chargers for 13 years, was found shot to death at his home Wednesday morning in what police said appeared to be a suicide. He was 43.

Professional football teams and players are trying to understand the damage that football type violence can do. In the beginning the damage is usually minimal.

"A brain should be able to restore balance. But there is potential for there to be cumulative injury and for there to be a progressive pattern of damage," said Teena Shetty, MD, of Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Dr. Shetty is the neurologist used by the New York Giants, she says they need to keep studying long-term brain damage but they do know each time a player like Seua suffers a concussion, that damage is greater.

Dr. Shetty adds, "Each time a player has a second or third concussion they are that much more vulnerable to the potential long term consequences."