Retired running back Thomas Jones, who played 12 NFL seasons, has decided that he will donate his brain to the Sports Legacy Institute to be studied for evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to ESPNNewYork.com.
Jones does not have an accurate count of many concussions that he has sustained during his professional, collegiate and high school career, but he is clearly concerned about what his future has to offer.
“Honestly, like I couldn’t give you a number because you just play with them,” Jones said. “You can’t know, nobody does. I think the guys counting the concussions were the ones that got knocked out.”
Jones is one of 600 living athletes who have decided to donate their brains to the Sports Legacy Institute to be studied. The Sports Legacy Institute refuses to confirm personal donations, but 33 of 34 neutral tissue samples taken from NFL players showed proof of CTE.
This has led Jones to produce and edit his own documentary series called, “The NFL: The Gift or The Curse?” The first six episodes will cover the topics of suicides and concussions in the league.
While making the documentary, Jones interviewed co-directors Ann McKee and Chris Nowinski of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University. His conversations with the directors led him to decide to donate his brain.
Junior Seau’s family revealed last week that evidence of CTE was found his brain after he committed suicide last year.
Former defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2000, makes an appearance in Jones’ documentary. Ogunleye experiences short-term memory loss daily.
“Somebody might tell me their name; I don’t remember it right away,” Ogunleye said. “Now I kind of laugh it off but when stuff like that happens, I’ll be like, ‘Damn, I hope these concussions don’t come back to haunt us in the end.'”
Jones hopes that his documentary will alert fans to look past fame and fortune and to open their eyes to the risks that an NFL player faces when he signs on his name on the dotted line.
“The fans look at it as money,” Jones said, “but once you’ve bought everything you want, you realize there is more you want out of life.”
