Former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray Easterling had a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated concussions, an autopsy report concludes. The medical examiner's report found that Easterling's brain had signs "consistent with the findings of chronic traumatic encephalopathy," a progressive degenerative disease that can be caused by multiple concussions. Easterling died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in April. He was 62. The autopsy report was provided Friday to The Associated Press by Mary Ann Easterling, who is among thousands of plaintiffs who have sued the NFL, claiming the league failed to properly treat players for concussions and attempted to cloak any links between the violent sport and brain injuries. The autopsy's findings were first reported by The New York Times.
