Lem Barney says he’s sure Deacon Jones’s death related to head injuries

Feb 2, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL former player Deacon Jones gives an interview on radio row for Super Bowl week. The New York Giants will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI . Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

While we’ve seen players go to soon due to the head injuries no one initially thought Deacon Jones was another statistic. He had lived to be 74 and by all means thats a full and solid life. But Hall of Fame cornerback Lem Barney thinks head injuries played a role.

“It’s a shame that he’s gone,” Barney told the USA Today. “I’m sure it’s due to the head injuries.”

Barney is also one of the most vocal critics of the NFL over the head injury controversy. He has sued the NFL and even gone so far to say he wished he wishes he never played football, the sport that made him rich and famous.

But there is no indication that Deacon Jones was suffering from the same symptoms as other players who have been afflicted.

“I know he didn’t complain about it,” Barney said. “But you could see that he was slower in speech when you saw him or had phone conversations. He was still the Deacon, but you could see some things being lost.”

Any proclamation that head injuries played a role are premature. There isn’t any medical evidence to support the claim as of now.