Concussion fears prompted Sidney Rice retirement

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Sidney Rice has revealed that concerns over concussions were behind his abrupt decision to retire last July at the age of 27.

With Rice sidelined by an ACL injury, the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII and looked like a clear favourite to return the next season, which they did in defeat to the New England Patriots. 

"It wasn't so much the symptoms, I felt great after I retired," Rice told SI Now. 

"It was just so much of all of the awareness that was coming to concussions and being able to see the long-term effects, the things that could happen down the road. That was the deciding factor in my decision."

Rice, who estimated he sustained eight to 10 concussions during his seven-year career, joined New York Giants punter Steve Weatherford in announcing this week that they were donating their brains to science research after their death.

Rice said a special segment on ESPN discussing the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) heightened his awareness and piqued his concerns. 

Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett, a former player featured on the ESPN special, has been open about his struggles with CTE after being diagnosed in 2013.

"That's something that really touched me, after having so many concussions," Rice said. "I felt like it was the right thing for me to do and it was time for me to hang up the cleats."

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