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Former pro football player Kevin Turner, shown here during a 1998 NFL game,<strong> </strong><a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F11%2F03%2Fhealth%2Fkevin-turner-cte-diagnosis%2F" target="_blank">had the most advanced stage of CTE</a> when he died in March at the age of 46. Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation said that Turner's CTE brought on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. <br /><br />CTE stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma. Scientists believe repeated head trauma can cause CTE, a progressive degenerative disease of the brain. Symptoms include depression, aggression and disorientation, but scientists can definitively diagnose it only after death.

Former pro football player Kevin Turner, shown here during a 1998 NFL game, had the most advanced stage of CTE when he died in March at the age of 46. Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation said that Turner's CTE brought on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

CTE stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma. Scientists believe repeated head trauma can cause CTE, a progressive degenerative disease of the brain. Symptoms include depression, aggression and disorientation, but scientists can definitively diagnose it only after death.

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BMX star Dave Mirra, who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot in February, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F05%2F24%2Fhealth%2Fdave-mirra-cte-bmx-biker%2F" target="_blank">was found to have CTE. </a>

BMX star Dave Mirra, who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot in February, was found to have CTE.

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<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2011%2FSPORT%2F08%2F03%2Fbubba.smith.obit%2F">Charles "Bubba" Smith</a>, a former football player and actor who died in 2011, was also diagnosed with CTE. Smith played for the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers.

Charles "Bubba" Smith, a former football player and actor who died in 2011, was also diagnosed with CTE. Smith played for the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers.

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Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Fred McNeill died in November 2015 due to complications from ALS. However, an autopsy confirmed that he suffered from CTE. What makes McNeill's case even more remarkable, though, is that he was potentially the first to be diagnosed while alive. Doctors used an experimental new technology to examine his brain.

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, a former NFL MVP who died in July 2015, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F02%2F03%2Fhealth%2Fken-stabler-cte%2F" target="_blank">suffered from CTE,</a> researchers at Boston University said.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, a former NFL MVP who died in July 2015, suffered from CTE, researchers at Boston University said.

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Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend before killing himself in December 2012. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F09%2F29%2Fhealth%2Fjovan-belcher-cte%2F" target="_blank">Pathology reports</a> show he probably had CTE.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend before killing himself in December 2012. Pathology reports show he probably had CTE.

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Hall of Fame offensive lineman Mike Webster was the first former NFL player to be diagnosed with CTE. After his retirement, Webster suffered from amnesia, dementia, depression, and bone and muscle pain.

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The death of 36-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk put the link between football and CTE in the national spotlight. Strzelczyk was killed in a 2004 car crash crash after a 40-mile high-speed chase with police in New York.

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Evidence of CTE was found in the brain of football player Lew Carpenter after his death in 2010 at the age of 78.

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Louis Creekmur, who played for the Detroit Lions from 1950 to 1959, suffered decades of cognitive decline before his death.

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Linebacker John Grimsley of the Houston Oilers died of an accidental gunshot wound to the chest in 2008. Analysis of his brain tissue confirmed damage to the neurofibrillary tangles that had begun to affect his behavior and memory.

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Chris Henry played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals before dying at the age of 26. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2010%2FHEALTH%2F07%2F02%2Fbrain.damage.henry%2Findex.html" target="_blank">He died after falling from the bed of a moving pickup</a> during a fight with his fiancée. His young age prompted concern over how quickly athletes start to suffer from CTE.

Chris Henry played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals before dying at the age of 26. He died after falling from the bed of a moving pickup during a fight with his fiancée. His young age prompted concern over how quickly athletes start to suffer from CTE.

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Offensive lineman Terry Long of the Pittsburgh Steelers committed suicide by drinking antifreeze. Although the antifreeze caused swelling of the brain, football-related brain injuries were a contributing factor to his death.

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Pro Football Hall of Famer John Mackey suffered from dementia for years before dying at the age of 69.

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Ollie Matson, who played 14 NFL seasons starting in the 1950s, suffered from dementia until his death in 2011.

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Andre Waters spent most of his 12 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before his suicide at age 44.

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Tom McHale of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, right, died in 2008 <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2009%2FHEALTH%2F01%2F26%2Fathlete.brains%2Findex.html">of an apparent drug overdose</a> at the age of 45.

Tom McHale of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, right, died in 2008 of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 45.

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Junior Seau <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F01%2F10%2Fhealth%2Fseau-brain-disease">took his own life</a> in 2012 at the age of 43. The question of CTE came up immediately after his death; scientists at the National Institutes of Health confirmed the diagnosis in January 2013.

Junior Seau took his own life in 2012 at the age of 43. The question of CTE came up immediately after his death; scientists at the National Institutes of Health confirmed the diagnosis in January 2013.

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Pro wrestler Chris Benoit was found dead at his suburban Atlanta home along with his wife, Nancy, and son in an apparent murder-suicide. Testing found that the damage to his brain was similar to that of an elderly Alzheimer's patient.

Darryl Dyck/Edmonton Sun/AP

Reggie Fleming, who played for six NHL teams, was the first hockey player to be diagnosed with CTE.

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Hockey player Bob Probert was found to have CTE after dying of heart failure at the age of 45.

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<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F12%2F15%2Fhealth%2Fbaseball-ryan-freel-cte-suicide%2F">Ryan Freel </a>became the first Major League Baseball player to be diagnosed with CTE nearly a year after he committed suicide at age 36.

Ryan Freel became the first Major League Baseball player to be diagnosed with CTE nearly a year after he committed suicide at age 36.

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Athletes and CTE

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NEW: Florida paper reports Dan Marino didn't realize he would be part of new lawsuit

NEW: Hall of Fame quarterback releases statement saying he has no current head injuries

Group of now 14 ex-players is latest to sue the NFL

CNN —

Dan Marino, considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in National Football League history, is withdrawing his name from a concussion lawsuit against the NFL, according to published reports.

The news, first reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, comes a day after media reports that the Hall of Fame quarterback and 14 other players had filed a lawsuit that claims the NFL knew for years of a link between concussions and long-term health problems and did nothing about it.

Marino, 52, said he didn’t realize his name would be attached to the lawsuit.

“Within the last year I authorized a claim to be filed on my behalf just in case I needed future medical coverage to protect me and my family in the event I later suffered from the effects of head trauma,” the former Miami Dolphins star wrote in a statement published in the Sun Sentinel and on Sports Illustrated’s website.

Marino said his name was “automatically” attached to the suit, which asks for a jury to decide monetary damages and seeks medical monitoring for the former players.

Each player submitted a brief complaint with standard language saying they suffer from brain injuries and exhibit symptoms that have developed over time.

“I am sympathetic to other players who are seeking relief who may have suffered head injuries. I also disclaim any references in the form complaint of current head injuries,” he said.

The Sun Sentinel reported that Marino has said he only had two concussions in his 17 seasons.

Marino was considered one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL and once started 99 games in a row. Known for a quick release and not getting sacked, he still holds several NFL records. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

He did not return CNN’s repeated calls for comment.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league had no comment on the lawsuit.

Other former players involved in the suit are Richard Bishop, Ethan Johnson, Chris Dugan, Anthony Grant, Mark Green, LaCurtis Jones, John Huddleston, Erik Affholter, Toddrick McIntosh, Dwight Wheeler, Jackie Wallace, Moses Moreno, Peter Manning and Bruce Clark.

Had Marino remained a party to the suit, he would have been one of the most high-profile former players among thousands who are suing or have sued the league through many different legal filings. After his career, Marino worked as an NFL analyst for HBO and CBS.

In the biggest concussion case, the NFL and at least 4,500 players proposed a $765 million settlement but a federal judge declined in January to approve the figure, saying she didn’t think it was enough money.

The estimated 20,000 class members over the settlement’s 65-year lifespan would include former players with early dementia, moderate dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and/or death with a postmortem diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disorder.

Sports Illustrated reported that Marino would be eligible for benefits from that lawsuit.

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CNN’s Marcus Hooper and Jill Martin contributed to this report.

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Reports: Dan Marino withdraws from concussion lawsuit

Athletes and CTE

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