Ex-Eagle Kevin Turner has ALS

Former Eagles fullback Kevin Turner has been diagnosed with amyotrophia lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

The 41-year-old Turner, who played for the Eagles from 1995-99, told the Montgomery Advertiser of Alabama he learned he had the disease - for which there is no cure - in April.

"The first doctor said she thought I had 12-15 years [to live]," Turner told the Advertiser. "Then I saw another doctor that said 5 or 6. The third doctor said you have 2 or 3 years. Heck, I'm going to stop going to see doctors. I may not make it out alive next time.

"They don't know. I'm pretending they don't know."

Turner was drafted by the New England Patriots out of the University of Alabama in 1992. He played three seasons with the Patriots before signing with the Eagles as a free agent in 1995. He spent five season with the Eagles, averaging 4.0 yards per carry and 8.4 per reception. He retired after the '99 season after suffering a series of stingers.

Turner told the Adverstiser that he thinks the disease is a direct result of playing football.

"I know when I retired, they told me I had the spinal column of a 65-year-old man," he said. "Any other fullback or linebacker probably has the same thing."

According to the Boston Globe, Turner is the 14th former NFL player to be diagnosed with ALS since 1960, a much higher rate than occurs in most adult males.

Just last week, a medical study was released that explored a possible link between sports such as football and an ALS-type illness linked to head trauma.