Breaking News: Gaines Adams dead at 26

[Varg6]

Bears DE Gaines Adams died Sunday morning in Greenwood, S.C., league sources confirmed to NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi. Adams was 26.

Greenwood County Coroner Jim Coursey told WYFF that Adams went to the emergency room at Self Regional Hospital and was pronounced dead Sunday morning.

Adams lived in Greenwood and played collegiately at nearby Clemson.

The Buccaneers drafted Adams fourth overall in 2007, and he had 13.5 sacks in 37 games with the team. He was traded to the Bears in October and played in 10 games.

Per NFL.com

What a tragedy, I wish I knew what happened.

[Bralidore(RAMMODE)]

He died at the same time I was having a strange dream about someone in my family dying....

Man that's a shame..

[r8rh8rmike]

Here's some more details:

Updated: January 17, 2010, 1:08 PM ET
Autopsy: Adams died of cardiac arrest

ESPN.com news services


Bears defensive end Gaines Adams died Sunday morning after he was taken to a Greenwood, S.C., emergency room, the county coroner said.

Greenwood County Coroner James T. Coursey told ESPN that Adams was taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. ET Sunday morning.

Coursey said the preliminary autopsy performed Sunday indicated Adams died of cardiac arrest caused by an enlarged heart.

Adams, 26, listed at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, played in college at Clemson and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He was traded to the Bears in October.

"I remember him at the 2007 Draft as a fine young man," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Our condolences to Gaines' family, his teammates on the Bears and Buccaneers, and their organizations on their loss."

In 47 games over three seasons with the Bucs and Bears, Adams had 67 tackles, including 13.5 sacks.

[Ramblin` Ram]

R.I.P. Gaines.



our own Darell Scott must be cut up about this..after playing literally alongside him @ Clemson.

[tomahawk247]

There are a lot of sports people that are dying at young ages due to problems with enlarged hearts. Very strange. Very sad.

[RockinRam]

There are a lot of sports people that are dying at young ages due to problems with enlarged hearts. Very strange. Very sad.

Weight problems?

[Ramblin` Ram]

theres been african soccer players who have died in the past due to genetic heart problems...its possible that Gaines could have had the same and could have died..if he was 150 lbs instead of just over 250.

i should add that there has been examples of this in other ethnic groups..but it seems to have happened most often to folks with African roots.

[tomahawk247]

Weight problems?

no i dont think so at all

i think it has more to do with supplements and stuff like that

[FestusRam]

no i dont think so at all

I think it has more to do with supplements and stuff like that

I would say it's natural.

Idk much about this stuff, but look how big these guys are. Like they said enlarged heart. These guys are way bigger than the average human and maybe there hearts grow at a much faster pace too. I could be completely wrong but, thats just what im thinking.

[Trevor]

Enlarged heart is a condition I believe, like heart disease, most likely he was born with it.