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Former Cardinals’ player Benny Perrin dead at 57

By Jim Koch

Sep 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals’ organization lost one of it’s former members when a player from their days in St. Louis committed suicide

The news of former NFL player Benny Perrin’s death will have a major effect on the Arizona Cardinals, in more ways than one.

Perrin, a former safety with the St. Louis Cardinals, died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound on Friday. Besides being a former employee of the Bidwill family, Perrin and Cards’ head coach Bruce Arians were together at the University of Alabama in 1981. Perrin roamed the secondary and Arians was running backs’ coach for the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant’s squad.

The former defensive back’s story is a sad one. He was one of 4,500 former NFL players who sued the league. Their claim was that concussions suffered during their playing careers had made life after football a struggle.

Perrin had revealed that he suffered from headaches and blurred vision following his retirement. He attributed his problems to the many hits he took while playing. Many who sacrificed their bodies to play in the NFL have made the same claims, and he’s also not the first to take his own life.

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Another former Cardinal safety, Dave Duerson, also suffered the same fate. The four-time Pro Bowler finished his career in the desert in 1993, having played three seasons with the club. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest in 2011.

Legendary linebacker Junior Seau also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He was found dead in his home in 2012 at the age of 43. He was later found to have had CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease that can lead to dementia, memory loss, and depression.

Perrin retired three seasons before the team moved to the Valley of the Sun. Because of that fact, most fans of the team who reside in Arizona probably don’t remember him. He was a solid player, a hard hitter who tallied nine career interceptions in his four NFL campaigns.

Condolences to the family and friends of Perrin. It’s a shame his life ended in such a terrible way.

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