CHICAGO (AP)Organized tackle football would be banned for Illinois children younger than 12 years old under a bill unveiled Thursday. The Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE is named for the Chicago Bears defensive back who was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy after he killed himself at the age of 50. Duerson shot himself in the chest so his brain could be studied for signs of the disease that has been linked to concussions or repeated head trauma. ”When my father tragically took his own life https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Mike-Singletary-Jersey , he donated his brain to science in hopes of being part of the solution,” said Tregg Duerson, who like his father played football at Notre Dame. ”Thanks to increased attention and research on brain trauma, we know that part of the solution is to guard young children’s developing brains from the risks of tackle football,” Tregg Duerson said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press in advance of the announcement. ”This bill honors my family’s hopes and my father’s legacy to protect future athletes and the future of football.” State Rep. Carol Sente, a Democrat from Vernon Hills, announced the proposal at a news conference Thursday along with Chris Nowinski, the head of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Also in attendance were former Bears players Mike Adamle and Otis Wilson – a teammate of Dave Duerson’s on the 1985 championship team – and Liz Nicholson, the wife of former Cleveland Brown Gerry Sullivan, who has sued the NFL over its handling of concussions. ”We all want kids to have fun playing football and to learn to play the game the right way early on,” Sente said in a statement. ”But the overwhelming data and powerful stories of our supporters here today show the risks of playing tackle football before turning 12 just aren’t worth it.” Wilson said he hasn’t had any CTE symptoms but he plans to donate his brain to research. ”I don’t need it where I’m going so might as well be able to help the process,” he said. ”There are a lot of individuals that have this issue and the more research that’s being done, hopefully we can have something to combat it.” CTE is a degenerative disease known to cause memory loss, violent moods and other cognitive difficulties in football players, members of the military and others who have endured repeated head trauma. It can only be diagnosed after death. Researchers believe the severity of the symptoms is increased for those who began playing football at a younger age. After years of denials, the NFL has acknowledged a link between head blows and brain disease and agreed in 2015 to a $1 billion settlement with former players. The Illinois bill is similar to a proposal in New York, and Nowinski said lawmakers in at least one other state are working to raise the age at which children begin playing tackle football. He said studies have shown that starting tackle football before the age of 12 can lead to great neurological impairment later in life. ”This isn’t about an act to ban tackle football Dick Butkus Color Rush Jersey ,” Nowinski said. ”This is about an act to prevent children from being hit in the head hundreds of times through sports each season.” — Golen reported from Boston. BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!BEARRRSSSSBernstein: Bears Defense Roars Its Dominance - 670 The Score - A ferocious Bears defense is a special kind of fun.Behind Stout Defense, Bears Maul Rams In 15-6 Win - 670 The Score - The Bears intercepted Jared Goff four times and had three sacks.Bears vs. Rams Live Blog: Score, highlights, analysis from NFL Week 14 game - NBC Sports Chicago - Follow along as the Bears and Rams face off on the lakeside.Video Bradley Sowell scores Bears' 2nd Big Guy Touchdown in 2 Weeks - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears continue to be ... inovative in the red zone.Neveau: Chicago Bears Could Clinch Playoff Berth Next Week - NBC Chicago - The Chicago Bears not only made a big statement with their win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, but they also took a massive step toward clinching their first playoff berth in eight years.Perez: Bears defense leads team to 1st winning season in 6 years - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears defense led the way to securing the team's first winning season in six years.Rams vs. Bears Week 14 Highlights - NFL 2018 - YouTube - Click here to watch the Bears crush the Rams offense.Perez: 5 takeaways from the Chicago Bears’ 15-6 victory over the Rams - USA Today - A look at five key takeaways from the Bears' 15-6 victory over the Rams in Week 14's Sunday Night FootballGame recap: Bears stop Rams cold in 15-6 win - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears defense passed its stiffest test of the season Sunday night at Soldier Field, dominating an explosive Rams offense in an impressive 15-6 victory.Mayer: Pace talks Trubisky’s return, scouts Rams - ChicagoBears.com - Bears general manager Ryan Pace spoke to play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak on WBBM Newsradio 780 AM and 105.9 FM prior to Sunday night’s game against the Rams. The following is a transcript of that interview.Stankevitz: Bears prove defense still matters with masterful shutdown of Rams - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears’ defense suffocated Jared Goff, neutralized Todd Gurley, owned the line of scrimmage and powered a 15-6 win over the 11-2 Rams at Soldier Field Sunday night.Rams vs. Bears: Sunday Night Football open thread - Canal Street Chronicles - It’s a huge showdown of two of the NFC’s best in Chicago tonight!Join us here to discuss the game! Ken's Note: Saints fans were rooting for Chicago, read this one :)Pick is in: Rams at Bears - ChicagoBears.com - Local and national NFL analysts make their pick for the Week 14 game between the Rams and Bears Sunday night at Soldier Field. Keep track of their weekly record here on Chicagobears.com. Ken’s Note: There’s a lot of egg on faces in this one!Bears’ D overwhelms Goff, Rams - ESPN Video - Chicago’s defense stymies Jared Goff and the Rams in primetime, coming up with 4 interceptions and a safety to fuel their upset win at Soldier Field.Eurich: Matt Nagy gave Bears fans game ball in Week 14 win - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears implored the fan base to come out in full throat on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Chicago’s fan base was loud and raucous throughout the night and that led to multiple penalties by the Rams in Chicago’s win. It has become a tradition for head coach Matt Nagy to hand out the game ball to someone after a victory in the locker room, and he revealed after the game that he gave the game ball to the city of Chicago and the fans.Eurich: Bears defense dominates Rams in big Sunday Night Football win - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears scuffled a week ago against the lowly New York Giants, but proved against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14 they have the ability to hang with the best in the NFL. The offense scuffled at times against the Rams, but the defense was lights out against one of the best offenses in the entire NFL. It was not pretty and mostly ugly, but the Bears walked away with a 15-6 victory at Soldier Field.Jahns: Loud and proud - An ‘electrifying’ victory for Matt Nagy-led Bears vs. Rams - Sun Times - Thanks to an outstanding defensive effort William Perry Jersey , the Bears defeated the Rams 15-6 at Soldier Field on Sunday night.Biggs: Dominant defense gives Bears chance at a deep playoff run - Chicago Tribune - If defense wins championships, the Bears figure to have a chance to at least make a deep playoff run. The Rams, held to six points, had scored 29 points or more in every game but one this season, and that was in a 23-20 win in Denver on Oct. 14.Bears defense shines with 4 interceptions in 15-6 win over Rams - Chicago Tribune - The Rams entered Sunday’s game against the Bears with a gaudy 11-1 record and hadn’t scored fewer than 23 points in a single game this season. But the Bears (9-4) shut down the Rams in a 15-6 win, locking in a winning season.POLISH SAUSAGECan’t-Miss Play: The Miami Miracle! ‘Fins pull off hook-and-ladder walk-off TD - NFL Videos - Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake takes in an epic touchdown on the game’s final play to beat the New England Patriots.Ezekiel Elliott becomes first offensive player penalized for helmet hit – ProFootballTalk - For the first time all season, an offensive player was penalized for the helmet rule. Officials threw a flag on Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for lowering his head to initiate contact.KNOW THY ENEMYLA Rams at Chicago Bears: Report card registers low in loss - Turf Show Times - The Rams laid a frozen egg in Chicago giving rise to doubts heading down the stretch.LA Rams 6, Chicago Bears 15 game recap: Defensed - Turf Show Times - In a defensive battle that featured two faltering, confused offenses, the Rams’ offense looked out of sorts all game. And it cost them.Detroit Lions playoff chances: Week 14’s games all fell the Lions’ way - Pride Of Detroit - For the Lions, it was a good day.3 things we learned in the Detroit Lions’ victory over the Arizona Cardinals - Pride Of Detroit - It was a boring day in the desert.Daily Norseman FanPulse: A brand new low - Daily Norseman - Another loss gives us another huge dropPackers score 34 straight en route to 34-20 win over scuffling Falcons - Acme Packing Company - In their first game since firing Mike McCarthy, the Packers showed the kind of ability this team had all along.What we learned from Sunday's Week 14 games - NFL.com - The Dolphins pulled off a miracle in Miami and Patrick Mahomes was his usual magical self in the Chiefs' comeback win against the Ravens. Here's what else we learned from Sunday's Week 14 games.Finley: Statement game - Bears bully one-loss Rams in 15-6 win - Sun Times - That’s what made their showing against the NFL’s best team so relevant. Inside an electric Soldier Field, coach Matt Nagy’s Bears proved they belongedBears vs. Rams 2018: Final score and game highlights - Sun Times - The Bears' defense delivered to hand the Rams their second loss of the season. Relive the Week 14 victory here.Bears inactives: QB Mitch Trubisky to play, WR Kevin White a healthy scratch | Chicago Sun-Times - Mitch Trubisky is back. The Bears quarterback, as expected, is active for Sunday night's game against the Rams.IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRONCurl's 2018 NFL Week 14 Chicago Bears LA Rams Postgame: Chicago Defense shows Jared Goff where the sun sets in 15 6 stomp-down - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears defend Soldier Field and prove they’re a true NFC threatInfante: Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski gives back to the community this holiday season - Windy City Gridiron - In an exclusive interview, Kwiatkoski talks to Windy City Gridiron about helping those less fortunate, the Bears’ mindset in the closing stretch of the season https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Mike-Ditka-Jersey , and more.WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - iTunes - Robert ZeglinskiTHE RULESWindy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. 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