When he ended his life last year by shooting himself in the chest, Junior Seau had a degenerative brain disease often linked with repeated blows to the head.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health said the former NFL star's abnormalities are consistent with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Mike Mularkey after just one season, the worst in franchise history.New general manager David Caldwell made the announcement two days after he was hired.Mularkey, who went 2-14 this season, became the eighth head coach fired since the end of the regular season.

CLEVELAND — Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar says he has finally found a treatment to ease years of pain from concussions he sustained during his NFL career.Kosar said he had more than a dozen documented concussions as a player. After more than a decade of constant headaches, insomnia and slurred speech, Kosar said he began to feel better following just a few weeks of treatments with Dr. Rick Sponaugle, who has a wellness institute in Florida. Kosar said he was skeptical about Sponaugle but he's now convinced the complex therapy, which involves nutritional supplements, works.

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Major League Baseball will test for human growth hormone throughout the regular season and increase efforts to detect abnormal levels of testosterone, a decision the NFL used to pressure its players.Baseball players were subject to blood testing for HGH during spring training last year, and the agreement between management and the Major League Baseball Players Association expands that throughout the season.

NEW YORK — NHL players will have 36 hours from Thursday night until Saturday morning to vote on the new labor deal that would end the four-month lockout.The players' association announced that electronic voting will begin Thursday at 8 p.m. EST.