Six ex-NFL players, Isaiah Kacyvenski, Ted Johnson, Frank Wycheck, Ben Lynch, Bernie Parrish and Bruce Laird, have agreed to donate their brains to to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, so that they can be studied as part of an effort to research concussions.

High-fives go out to those gentlemen. It's either have their brains sliced up by researchers, or have them chewed up by the worms and maggots that would eventually get to them in the ground.

And if the Tennessee Titans had plans to cryogenically freeze Frank Wycheck, and then re-animate him the next time they needed a miracle kick return in a playoff game, and this spoils their plans, than that's just too bad.

It's an important subject that needs more research (or at the very least, there are people who need more convincing), and if these fellows' brains can help move that along, I'm thrilled about it. Olympic swimmer Jenny Thompson, hockey player Noah Welch, and soccer player Cindy Parlow have also agreed to donate their brains.

Kacyvenski suffered multiple concussions as a player, as did Wycheck. Johnson retired due to his concussions, and told the New York Times that to this day, he suffers from depression, headaches, and amphetamine addiction, all brought on by the concussions. Johnson also went through a bit of ugliness with the Patriots organization, alleging that head coach Bill Belichick pressured him to play while concussed. Belichick denies knowing of Johnson's condition.

Good luck, researchers. And hey, while you're in there, is there any way to tell if Frank Wycheck really believes that was a backwards pass?

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