Organized tackle football would be banned for Illinois children younger than 12 years old under a bill unveiled Thursday.

The Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE is named for the Chicago Bears defensive back who was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy after he killed himself at the age of 50. Duerson shot himself in the chest so his brain could be studied for signs of the disease that has been linked to concussions or repeated head trauma.

”When my father tragically took his own life [url=www.chicagobearsteamonline.com]Devin Hester Jersey Youth[/url] , he donated his brain to science in hopes of being part of the solution,” said Tregg Duerson, who like his father played football at Notre Dame.

”Thanks to increased attention and research on brain trauma, we know that part of the solution is to guard young children’s developing brains from the risks of tackle football,” Tregg Duerson said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press in advance of the announcement. ”This bill honors my family’s hopes and my father’s legacy to protect future athletes and the future of football.”

State Rep. Carol Sente, a Democrat from Vernon Hills, announced the proposal at a news conference Thursday along with Chris Nowinski, the head of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Also in attendance were former Bears players Mike Adamle and Otis Wilson – a teammate of Dave Duerson’s on the 1985 championship team – and Liz Nicholson, the wife of former Cleveland Brown Gerry Sullivan [url=www.pantherscheapshop.com]Cheap Marquis Haynes Jersey[/url] , who has sued the NFL over its handling of concussions.

”We all want kids to have fun playing football and to learn to play the game the right way early on,” Sente said in a statement. ”But the overwhelming data and powerful stories of our supporters here today show the risks of playing tackle football before turning 12 just aren’t worth it.”

Wilson said he hasn’t had any CTE symptoms but he plans to donate his brain to research.

”I don’t need it where I’m going so might as well be able to help the process,” he said. ”There are a lot of individuals that have this issue and the more research that’s being done, hopefully we can have something to combat it.”

CTE is a degenerative disease known to cause memory loss, violent moods and other cognitive difficulties in football players, members of the military and others who have endured repeated head trauma. It can only be diagnosed after death. Researchers believe the severity of the symptoms is increased for those who began playing football at a younger age.

After years of denials, the NFL has acknowledged a link between head blows and brain disease and agreed in 2015 to a $1 billion settlement with former players.

The Illinois bill is similar to a proposal in New York, and Nowinski said lawmakers in at least one other state are working to raise the age at which children begin playing tackle football. He said studies have shown that starting tackle football before the age of 12 can lead to great neurological impairment later in life.

”This isn’t about an act to ban tackle football,” Nowinski said. ”This is about an act to prevent children from being hit in the head hundreds of times through sports each season.”

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Golen reported from Boston.
Chris Ballard stuck to the basics on draft weekend.

The Indianapolis Colts general manager started up front and worked his way back.

Along the way, Ballard found more protection for injured quarterback Andrew Luck [url=www.authenticlosangeleschargers.com]Chargers Elite Jerseys[/url] , new and perhaps better pieces to fit the Colts’ revamped defense and finally some skill players to lower the burden on Luck.

The question remains – will it be enough to get the Colts back on track?

”You wish you could address every single need at a greater level,” team owner Jim Irsay on Saturday, the final day of draft weekend.

”There are areas we still need to strengthen up, there’s no question about that. But it’s going to be interesting to see just how much better we are. If Andrew Luck is healthy, and we think he will be, we’re going to have a pretty formidable football team. That’s the bottom line.”

The biggest strides were made in areas that have been problematic for years – the offensive and defensive lines.

Ballard indicated as much by repeatedly emphasizing how the offensive and defensive lines would be cornerstone features of the Colts’ rebuild.

So instead of making flashy moves on the first two days, Ballard skipped right over skill position players and bided his time until Saturday.

He wound up getting two of the best guards in this draft class, Quenton Nelson at No. 6 overall and Braden Smith at No. 37, and defensive ends Kemoko Turay and Tyquan Lewis as part of four second-round picks.

It was all part of Ballard’s plan.

He added two receivers, Reece Fountain and Deon Cain [url=www.redskinsauthorizedshops.com]Redskins Game Jerseys[/url] , and two running backs, the speedy Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins, with Indy’s first four picks on Day 3. Ballard closed it out by adding two inside linebackers in the seventh round.

Now all the Colts can do is wait to see how it all pans out.

”Our main focus was to get some young talent on the fronts and I think we did that,” Ballard said.

TRADING PLACES

Ballard made his first and biggest trade last month when he sent the No. 3 pick to the Jets and moved back three spots. In return, he wound up with two extra second-round picks this year and another in 2019.

He was far from finished. Ballard made four other deals over the past three days and finished the weekend making a franchise-record 11 picks in a seven-round draft.

Indy traded the 49th pick to Philadelphia, moving back three spots and got an extra fifth-rounder. Ballard then sent third and sixth-round picks to Cleveland to add a fourth second-rounder. Then the Colts swapped fifth-round picks with Oakland, moving down 19 spots to get a sixth-rounder and finally traded defensive end Henry Anderson to the Jets for a seventh-rounder.

HE SAID IT

”I just feel like I’m just an overlooked guy. I’m really, really overlooked. Obviously being at an FCS school, that is one of the reasons why,” said Fountain [url=www.seahawksfootballauthentics.com]Youth Barkevious Mingo Jersey[/url] , who played at Northern Iowa. ”I really sure that I’m the biggest steal of the draft.”

HINES VERSATILITY

Hines posted the fastest 40-yard dash (4.38 seconds) among running backs at the NFL’s annual scouting combine.

He could be a lot more than just a breakaway back. Hines was recruited out of high school as a receiver and also returned kicks at North Carolina State. Because of his versatility, he’s been compared with Darren Sproles. Hines has embraced the comparison and could be a major upgrade for a team in need of playmakers.

”I can catch the ball, I can run the ball, I can do kickoff returns and punt returns,” he said. ”So you can expect to see me in different positions and hopefully making plays from different positions.”

STILL NEED

Only time will tell how many holes Ballard plugged this weekend. There’s still work left to do.

Indy remains thin at linebacker especially on the outside if John Simon and Tarell Basham remain at defensive end. The Colts didn’t address the secondary at all, could still use an upgrade at right tackle and may be on the lookout for another receiver.

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