Jovan Belcher likely suffered from CTE, per report

Known as CTE, the neurodegenerative disease has been posthumously diagnosed in dozens of former NFL players. Triggered by repeated head trauma, it has been linked to dementia, memory loss and depression.

Attorneys representing the interests of Belcher’s daughter, Zoe -- who was three-months old at the time of the tragedy -- hired Dr. Piotr Kozlowski to examine her father’s brain. The body was exhumed one year after his 2012 death and the examination was carried out two weeks later. Belcher’s daughter and mother would be eligible for up to $4 million under a proposed settlement between the NFL and former players, and attorneys for both have separately filed wrongful-death lawsuits against the Chiefs. As part of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the NFL is already providing financial support for his daughter, and will continue to do so until she is at least 18.

The suit filed by Belcher’s mother, Cheryl Shepherd, alleges Belcher was exposed to “repetitive head trauma” and “suffered multiple concussive and subconcussive blows to the head which caused or contributed to cause a a (sic) constellation of neurologic/brain harms, including post concussion syndrome ... and traumatic brain injuries, such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE),” according to the Kansas City Star report.

The laswuit also alleges the Chiefs were, or should have been, aware that Belcher showed signs of cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairment. Belcher’s body was exhumed earlier this month at the request of his family to test his brain for evidence of CTE. The suit alleges Belcher did not receive adequate medical care, including after a concussion he suffered in 2012.

But some unsettled feelings remained as fans continued to figure out why a 25-year old starting linebacker for the Chiefs would commit such an act. After talking to several groups of fans, the conversation continually turned to Zoey, the three-month-old daughter Belcher left behind. Several fans wondered what they could do to help her.

The parking lot at the practice facility, where Belcher took his life, remained relatively unchanged from Saturday morning. Media and fans are not allowed into that area. News trucks remained lined up along the practice facility.

Belcher’s agent, Joe Linta, told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King that “Jovan was a happy, proud father, with pictures of his baby on his Facebook page. This is shocking. Something went crazy wrong, and we’ll probably never know what it is.”

Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, at their home and then committed suicide at one of the Chiefs’ facilities.

Shortly after the shooting at the couple’s residence, Belcher drove to the Chiefs’ nearby facility at Arrowhead Stadium. There, he took his own life in the players parking lot.

Perkins and Belcher had been dating for a few years and had a 3-month-old daughter together. The daughter is confirmed as safe and in the custody of her grandmother. Both reportedly witnessed the shooting at the residence.

As of early Saturday afternoon, the NFL is still planning to play the game as scheduled at 1 p.m. ET, according to FOX’s Jay Glazer:

The possibility of the game being delayed has certainly not been foreclosed, however, as the Chiefs and the league continue to be in contact about the best course of action, via Glazer:

This is just unbelievably sad and incredibly awful.

Nothing else to say about it. Thoughts and prayers to the Chiefs.