Miami Hurricanes alum Artie Burns “I definitely have CTE”

In just his second season in the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback and Miami Hurricanes alum Artie Burns told Sports Illustrated “I definitely have CTE”.

Burns played three seasons with the Miami Hurricanes and was a two-year starter. He finished his collegiate career with 93 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, seven interceptions and 14 pass breakups. He had six pass breakups and five interceptions during his final season in Miami.

Burns has been a starter during his two seasons with the Steelers. He starts opposite Joe Haden at right cornerback and also returns kickoffs. Despite playing two positions with the potential for high impact hits, Burns has reportedly never gotten a concussion.

Burns said he definitely Cronic Traumatic Encephelotphy during a panel discussion with Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated spoke to seven players about the related issues with CTE, concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

There is not currently a test to determine whether or not someone living has CTE. Dr. Ann McKee of the Boston University CTE Center said that a test to determine whether or not if someone living has CTE could happen within the next five years.

The Sports Illustrated article discussed the possibility of CTE tests in active players and what an outcome of that could be. The players were asked a series of questions, but Burns only answered one.

"SI: If a test to diagnose CTE existed, would you take it?ARTIE BURNS, Steelers CB: I definitely know I have it. I’m going to [test positive for] CTE. I don’t need a test. Is it going to tell me how much I have? We play a physical sport, man. Humans are not made to run into each other.There was a series of several questions”  Do you want such a (CTE) test to exist? Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end Chris Long said: I think it would be the best thing for players if we could all know what we’re getting into.What if you were required to take the test in order to play, because of potential liability issues?Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said:Players should be required to know. I’d want to know. But not a lot [of guys would take the test]. Everybody would be scared to know a little truth about themselves.Part of the thinking is that it could become necessary to test for insurance or liability reasonsRedskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said: With more information comes more information. We haven’t had to deal with that yet, but I’m sure it’s on the horizon.Part of the thinking is that it could become necessary to test for insurance or liability reasons.Cousins said:“With more information comes more information. We haven’t had to deal with that yet, but I’m sure it’s on the horizon.”"

Burns isn’t the first Miami Hurricanes player in the NFL thinking about concussion issues. Former Miami alum and Carolina Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan retired in part because of five concussions he suffered during his career.

Morgan who is now the Player Personnel Director of Seattle Seahawks had to retire at age 29 because of the concussion, Achilles and shoulder issues. Speaking to ProCanes.Com in 2010 he said.

"“I never really kept count, but the longer you’re away from it, the more you realize you had,’’ Morgan said. “I never knew it was an issue until I got to the NFL, and the media made it an issue.“I mean, I go back to high school, and I remember hitting people and seeing shades of green. You know, that was probably one there.”"

Morgan has said in the past that had the concussion protocol been in place during his career, he could have likely played longer. The concussion protocol in the NFL seems more universal than what college has is the place to diagnose concussions.

Next: Five Miami Hurricanes alums that are Pro Football Hall of Fame locks

Both the NFL and NCAA need to continue to evolve with traumatic brain injuries, concussions and CTE. As young players start to take TBI’s, CTE and Concussions more seriously, hopefully, diagnoses will evolve with it.