Junior Seau, former NFL linebacker, found dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot found - Polidicks

[img]http://chicksinthehuddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/seAU.jpg[/img] [quote]OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- 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. He was 43. Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. A gun was found near him, McCoy said, and police were investigating the possibility that Seau's death was a suicide. Police said no suicide note was found and they didn't immediately know who the gun was registered to.[/quote] [quote="ESPN"]"Wow shocked right now, I tapped Juniors picture every single day before heading out to practice at USC. R.I.P. to a legend n awesome person," Texans linebacker and fellow USC alumnus Brian Cushing wrote on his Facebook page. "As a young linebacker, Junior was my hero growing up and once I had the opportunity meet him I saw that he was everything I hoped he would be and more," former Dolphin Zach Thomas said in a statement. "Getting the chance to play alongside of Junior Seau, the greatest linebacker to ever play the game, made my dreams come true. I am absolutely devastated to hear this news. Today I lost my hero, my friend, my buddy." Jason Taylor, who also played with Thomas and Seau on the Dolphins, said he was "devastated." More Seau Reaction As news filtered out of Seau's death, former teammates, friends and other athletes whose lives Seau touched reacted on Twitter. Reaction • SportsNation: Fans react to news "It would be easy for me to say he was a great friend and teammate, and a tremendous competitor, but that would be selling Junior short," Taylor said in a statement. "Junior Seau was an individual of great honor and integrity, a leader of men and someone with a deep-rooted passion for giving of himself to make the people, the community and especially the children around him better. This is an immeasurable loss for so many. My heart and prayers go out to Junior's family, Gina and their children. I'm going to miss you buddy." Commissioner Roger Goodell sent his condolences to the Seau family on Twitter and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said, "The NFLPA player family today joins with the Seau family to mourn a brother lost too soon." USC athletic director Pat Haden called Seau "one of the greatest legends" in school history. "He will always be remembered by USC as the original No. 55," Haden said in a statement. Seau's greatest game may have been in the 17-13 victory at Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game in January 1995 that sent the Chargers to the Super Bowl. Playing through the pain of a pinched nerve in his neck, he spread out his 16 tackles from the first play to the second-to-last. San Diego was routed 49-26 in the Super Bowl by San Francisco. Humphries also recalled Seau recovering Elway's fumble to seal a come-from-behind victory in the 1994 opener at Denver. Seau left the Chargers after the 2002 season when the team unceremoniously told him he was free to pursue a trade. He held a farewell news conference at the restaurant he owned in Mission Valley, and later was traded to Miami. "Junior was a fierce competitor whose passion and work ethic lifted his teammates to greater heights. His enthusiasm for the game was infectious and he passed that on to everyone who was around him. He loved the game so much, and no one played with more sheer joy," Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said in a statement. "Junior was one-of-a-kind. The league will never see anyone like him again," Dee said. Seau retired a few times, the first in August 2006, when he said, "I'm not retiring. I am graduating." [+] Enlarge US Presswire Junior Seau became the eighth member of the 1994 Chargers, who lost Super Bowl XXIX to the 49ers, to die at a young age. Four days later, he signed with the New England Patriots. He was with the Patriots when they lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, which ended New England's quest for a perfect season. Last fall, finally retired for good, Seau was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. His last season was 2009. "Twenty years, to be part of this kind of fraternity, to be able to go out and play the game that you love, and all the lessons and the friends and acquaintances which you meet along the way, you can't be in a better arena," Seau said in August. The Patriots issued a statement expressing grief over Seau's death. "This is a sad day for the entire Patriots organization, our coaches and his many Patriots teammates," the statement said. More than 100 people gathered outside of Seau's home, only hours after he was found dead. Families showed up with flowers and fans wearing Chargers jerseys waited to get news. Several hours after Seau was found, his body was loaded onto a medical examiner's van and taken away as fans snapped pictures and raised their hands in the air as if in prayer. Family friend Priscilla Sanga said about 50 friends and family members gathered in the garage where Seau's body lay on a gurney and they had the opportunity to say goodbye. "Everybody got to see Junior before they took him away," Sanga said. "He looked so peaceful and cold. It was disbelief. We all touched him and kissed him."[/quote] Legendary football player, it's awfully sad to see him go out like this. Rest in peace man, you were a great player.

Nooooo

I seen his induction into the Chargers HoF last season. He seemed like a great dude. And he's one of the NFLs all time greats. RIP Junior

poor dude. I have to admit though. That picture of him in the OP is fucking awesome.

Oh fuck. I remember reading some kids version biography about him back in elementary school. Man this sucks.

[QUOTE=usaokay;35803799]There's a sports bar & restaurant created by him. It's located near Qualcomm Stadium in Westfield Shopping Town. Go there. It looks awesome and there are always people there watching a sports game most weekends.[/QUOTE] I did go there actually. Had a french dip, it was pretty good.

Next Chargers game I go to I'mma eat at his bar

Went to Seau's and met the guy. He was so friendly, he even gave me and a few friends free shots of patron.. RIP man, you were a great.

A shot to the chest? Isn't that a little awkward to pull off, especially with his physique? Plus, if he was trying to kill himself, why wouldn't he shoot himself in the head? I'm gonna call that someone else shot him.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;35804346]A shot to the chest? Isn't that a little awkward to pull off, especially with his physique? Plus, if he was trying to kill himself, why wouldn't he shoot himself in the head? I'm gonna call that someone else shot him.[/QUOTE] Last year former NFL star David Duerson shot himself in the chest so they could save his brain for study. Trauma to the brain from a 20 year career could have had some serious side affects like depression and even dementia. Some people are thinking he might've done the same thing. If you shoot yourself in the heart, you have a good chance of dying, I think people are underestimating that.