Ex-Bear Shaun Gayle Sues NFL, Says He Has CTE Symptoms

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 11, 2012 9:00PM

The Sun-Times is reporting another member of the Super Bowl XX champion Chicago Bears has filed a lawsuit against the NFL and helmet maker Riddell Wednesday. Shaun Gayle says in his lawsuit that a 12-year playing career (11 with the Bears), left him with symptoms related to the neuro-degenerative disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Gayle's lawsuit says the NFL never properly diagnosed or set a plan in place to treat concussive head trauma during his playing days; that Riddell's helmets didn't provide adequate protection; and that the NFL’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee allegedly mislead players about the long-term health risks of head trauma.

Gayle joins former Bear Jim McMahon and the family of the late Dave Duerson in suing the league. Gayle was most recently in the news when his ex-girlfriend Rhoni Reuter, pregnant with the couple's unborn child, was killed by Marni Yang in 2007 in a fit of jealousy. Yang was convicted of the murder in March 2011 and was sentenced to life in prison.