Morning Wrap: Chiefs Berry Out With Possible Cancerous Mass in Chest

((ht: kcstar.com))

We wish Kansas City Chiefs Safety Eric Berry the best. And hope what he is dealing with is done and taken care of quickly.

Berry was put on the Chiefs non football illness list Monday evening after complaining to team trainer Rick Burkholder of pain in his chest area.

An MRI, along with a PET scan  found a mass on the right side of his chest which doctors believe may be a lymphoma (an immune system cancer).

Here's video from the Kansas City Star of Burkholder discussing what is happening:



Berry will head home to Fairburn in metro Atlanta area and be examined at Emory University Medical Center, one of the nations leading cancer research centers. Doctors are expected to do a biopsy once Berry is able to get back home.

Having covered Berry back in his days at Creekside High School and interviewing him while he played at the University of Tennessee, we can say that he truly is one of the classiest, well respected kids we ever covered. And we are quite sure that he will conquer this.

The soft-spoken Berry released a statement via the Chiefs website:

“I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent. I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in God’s hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead. I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!”

We also want to note--if you go to the Chiefs website to read the statement...the 1st comment on the page is from the San Diego Chargers and team owner Dean Spanos. A very well said offer of prayers and respect.

Fox4 Kansas City gives us the TV story:

OSG High: Creekside Aiming For Perfect Season

((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))

The HQ has followed the story of Creekside (GA) High School and their football team ever since one of their own, DeAntre Turman, was lost in a scrimmage back in August from head trauma...

Head Coach Olten Downs and his team have played their season in memory of Turman saying: "Do it for deuce..."

And they have...

Here's FOSG Cody Chaffins...
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Creekside finished their regular season with a 49-0 over Ola (GA) High School...
Next step- the playoffs, which start next week...

OSG High: Georgia HS Player Dies During Scrimmage (UPDATED With Cause)

((HT: AJC.com/Holcomb, Lee, Stevens))

Creekside High (GA) Cornerback DeAntre Turman died last night during a scrimmage and is the first on-field death in three years in Georgia high school football.

He was hurt in a scrimmage last night and transported to a local hospital where he died. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office has not released a cause of death at present and is scheduled to perform an autopsy within the next few days.

Turman had a scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky as a junior- according to 247Sports and former coaches.

The AJC got in touch with the Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association, Dr. Ralph Swearngin:

“Any kind of death of an adolescent, it’s a tragedy,” Swearngin said. “You think about the loss to the family and a young life being cut off whether it’s an athletic event or car accident or natural causes. As a father and grandfather, it strikes you personally.”

Here's Turman in action from his time at Creekside
((HT: Hudl))


The HQ sends its thoughts to the Seminoles family in this time...
More when we know more...

PM UPDATE: Jon Shirek has the details from the medical examiner and it appears Turman died of a spinal fracture...
((HT: 11alive.com))