Birk, Tatupu, Morey Plan to Donate Brains to BU Sports Injury Study

Playing in the NFL sure takes a toll on ones body, but how much damage does the physical brutality leave on the human brain?

One Boston University medical program intends to find out.

Three active NFL players -- Matt Birk of the Baltimore Ravens, Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks (and son of former Patriot Mosi Tatupu) and Sean Morey of the Arizona Cardinals -- are joining former players in donating their brains after death to a BU program that studies sports brain injuries.

The players' brains and spinal cord tissue will go to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy so researchers can better understand the effects of concussions. More than 150 former athletes, including former Patriots linebacker and current NESN SportsDesk insider Ted Johnson, are in the program's brain donation registry.

About the Author

John Beattie is an assistant editor in NESN’s new media department. Prior to joining NESN, the Longmeadow, Mass. native was a reporter for the New York Jets’ Internet and Publications department. While at Springfield College, he played first base and outfield for the Pride. You can follow John on Twitter.

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