Toxicology confirms drugs played no role in Adams' death

February 10, 2010 12:48 PM

By David Haugh

Now that toxicology test results have confirmed that hard drugs didn't contribute to the sudden cardiac death of Bears defensive end Gaines Adams last month in Greenwood, S.C., two questions linger:

1. Will the NFL Cardiovascular Committee make echocardiograms mandatory for players and incoming draft picks in time for the NFL Combine beginning Feb. 24 in Indianapolis, as was discussed in January?
2. Has the Adams family decided whether to pursue legal action that sources in South Carolina say was being considered in the days following the tragedy?

This much is clear: Toxicology results from the autopsy showed Adams had a blood-alcohol level of .02 and traces of marijuana in his bloodstream, a source with knowledge of the test results told the Tribune.
Asked if either a small amount of alcohol -- .02 is the equivalent of just under two beers -- or marijuana could have played a role in the cardiac arrest, one doctor who asked not to be identified said no. The percent of marijuana in Adams' bloodstream was .03, according to the source.

The autopsy also revealed that Adams' heart weighed 550 grams, much heavier than an average heart's weight of around 350 grams. A heart weighing 375 grams or more is considered abnormal, consistent with original findings that Adams had an enlarged heart.

A source told the Tribune last month that Adams' condition would have shown up in an echocardiogram but would be easy to overlook with a typical EKG that NFL players receive. NFL Players Association medical director Thomas Mayer concurred when he later told ESPN.com that the medical examiner who performed an autopsy on Adams stated the enlarged heart that led to his death could have been detected by an echocardiogram.

Neither the Bears nor the Buccaneers, Adams' former team, had reason to suspect Adams was a candidate for an echocardiogram because he never had shown symptoms or warning signs, a source said. Both teams conducted physicals in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The autopsy also revealed that Adams suffered from hypertension.