Andrew Hawkins Retiring: Patriots Receiver Donating Brain To Science

FOXBOROUGH, MA — On the same day that a new study showed signs of CTE in 99 percent of deceased NFL players' brains donated to the study, a member of the New England Patriots is retiring and donating his brain for further research.

Wide receiver Andrew Hawkins announced Tuesday that he is leaving the NFL. He signed with the Patriots earlier this year and previously spent the past three seasons with the Cleveland Browns. (Subscribe to Foxborough Patch and like us on Facebook for more local - and some Patriots - news and alerts.)

In a video for the sports website Uninterrupted, Hawkins, 31, said his body didn't respond the way he wanted it to entering training camp. He also announced that his brain will be donated to the Concussion Legacy Foundation for CTE study.

Earlier in the day, a new study of 111 donated brains from former NFL players revealed that 110 of them showed signs of CTE.

The study, done by the Boston University School of Medicine and the VA Boston Healthcare System, showed that of the 202 brains from football players of all levels, 177 of them showed evidence of the disease.

Neuropathologist Ann McKee, however, cautioned that the study does not provide an accurate concussion rate and studied brains mostly donated by concerned families.

Image via NFLPV/Associated Press