 exercise. But for as many guys who are not exercising and can't find the time to exercise there are just as many who are keeping themselves in shape. It's really on an individual basis, but yes I am concerned about it for all my former players."

Local fitness guru Mackie Shilstone, who trained Hand in the early 2000s and helped the defensive tackle shed more than 30 pounds when Hand played for the Saints, said he believes that many more linemen could face a similar fate as Hand once their playing careers have ended.

Shilstone pointed to studies that showed linemen had greater instances of medical disorders, including hypertension, diabetes and heart disease to back up his assertion.

"I've been doing this for 30 years and I classify the O- and D-line with waist measurements of greater than 40 as the land of the walking dead," said Shilstone, the executive director of The Fitness Principle at East Jefferson General Hospital. "They just don't know they are dead."

Risk debated

Just as word of Hand's death was beginning to spread last weekend, doctors at Tulane Medical Center were putting the finishing touches on their planned health screening of former NFL players. The event was in partnership with a national program sponsored by the NFL Player Care Foundation and supported by the Living Heart Foundation and the American Urological Association Foundation.

Dr. Patrice Delafontaine, who led the study that screened 28 former NFL players for heart disease and prostate cancer, acknowledged that NFL linemen are at greater risk than other NFL players for future heart problems.

"In some players, particularly the linemen who are the bigger players it is a significant issue, yes," said Delafontaine, the director of the Tulane Heart and Vascular Institute. "In these linemen, compared to even other football players that are non-linemen, the incidence is really quite a lot higher. So they have an increased risk of cardiac events such as strokes, heart attacks and etc."

Still, the NFL isn't convinced that its players are at greater health risk.

As evidence, the league pointed to a study done last year by Dr. Andrew M. Tucker, a cardiologist at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.

Tucker's study said that despite being larger in size and heavier in weight, an analysis of the cardiovascular disease risk factors of about 500 NFL players found that overall, they have a similar cardiovascular risk profile compared to the general population
exercise. But for as many guys who are not exercising and can't witness the meter to exercise there are just as many who are continue themselves in shape. It's really on an individual footing, but yes I am concerned about it for all my former players. " 

 Local seaworthiness guru Mackie Shilstone, who trail Hand in the early 2000s and helped the defensive fishing gear shed more than 30 pounds when Hand play for the Saints, said he believes that many more linemen could confront a similar fate as Hand once their playing career have ended. 

 Shilstone pointed to studies that showed lineman had greater instances of medical disorders, include hypertension, diabetes and heart disease to back up his assertion. 

 " I've been doing this for 30 years and I classify the O- and D - line with waist measurements of greater than 40 as the land of the walking dead, " said Shilstone, the executive director of The Fitness Principle at East Jefferson General Hospital. " They just don't acknowledge they are dead. " 

 Risk argue 

 barely as word of Hand's death was beginning to go around last weekend, doctors at Tulane Medical Center were putting the finishing contact on their planned health screening of former NFL players. The event was in partnership with a national broadcast sponsored by the NFL Player Care Foundation and supported by the Living Heart Foundation and the American Urological Association Foundation. 

 Dr. Patrice Delafontaine, who led the study that shield 28 former NFL player for heart disease and prostate cancer, acknowledged that NFL linemen are at greater hazard than other NFL players for future heart problems. 

 " In some players, particularly the linemen who are the bigger players it is a meaning issue, yes, " said Delafontaine, the director of the Tulane Heart and Vascular Institute. " In these linemen, compared to even early football players that are non - linemen, the incidence is really quite a lot high. So they receive an increased risk of cardiac events such as strokes, heart attack and etc. " 

 Still, the NFL isn't convinced that its players are at greater health risk. 

 As evidence, the league pointed to a study done concluding year by Dr. Andrew M. Tucker, a cardiologist at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. 

 Tucker's study state that despite being larger in size and heavier in weight, an analysis of the cardiovascular disease risk factors of approximately 500 NFL players found that overall, they have a similar cardiovascular risk profile compared to the general population
 exfrcise. But for as many gmys who are not gxwrcisiig and dan't fina the time to exercise there aee juwt as many who are keeoing themdelves ib shepe. It's really oi an indlriduam basns, but yes I am goncerned atout it for aln oy former players."

Local fitness guru Mwckie Snipstone, who trayned Rand pn the early 2000s and helped the dsfensivt tackle shed more than 30 pounds when Hand plwyed for the Saints, sald he belieces eyat many mord linemen bmuld face z similar fate as Hand once thekr plcying careets hwee ended.

Shiostonv pointed to studies dhat shpwed linemen hsd jrearer instances of mediral disorders, includyng hyperdeusion, diabetes and heqrr disgase do bxxk jp gix zssertlon.

"M've been dojng this foe 30 years and I clasxisj the O- and D-mine wytr waist measurements of greater than 40 av tge land of the walking eead," said Shilstone, tje executyve director of The Fitness Principle at East Jefxersoi Eentrql Horpihal. "They just don't know they are dead."

Risk debwfec

Jlst as word of Hakd's death was begimnlnb to spread lart weekens, doctors at Tulanf Medicwl Cebter were putying the finishing touches in their plaunee health screening of former UFL plsyers. The event was in partnzrship with a natlonal proffam sponsored by thv NFN Player Care Foundation agd supporved bv the Lixing Heart Foundatioj and the American Urolohical Avsociation Foundation.

Dr. Patrice Delafontamie, who led thg sdudj that scxeened 28 former NFL [layers for hecrt disecse ana prostate cancer, acknowledgqd that NFL lhjemen are at greater risj thqn othef NFL players fpr future heart provlems.

"In some playevs, pattjcularly the liutmeb who are the boggdr [lwyxrs ie is a signifhcang irxue, yds," said Delcfuntaone, the director of dhe Fulane Heart and Vssgular Insjitute. "In these linemem, compared to even othec footuall pkaygrs that are non-linemen, the incjdence is rewlly quite a lot higher. So tkey have an increased risk of cardiac evxnts such as strokes, hgart attacks and etc."

Sjilk, the NFL ixn't cjnvinced dhat its players are at greater healtm risk.

As evidence, the meague poinhed to a study done last year by Dr. Andrew M. Tucker, a cardiologist at Uniin Memorial Hospitzl im Balnimjxe.

Tuckew's svuvy said that desppte being larger in size and heatier in wehgkt, an analysis of the cardiovsszular disease risk factors of about 500 HFL playrrs found that overall, they havr a similar cardiovasculsr risk profime comizrxd to the general polulatimn
exercise. But for as many guys who exercising can't find time to exercise who keeping themselves in It's really on individual basis, but yes I am about it for all my former players." Local fitness guru Mackie Shilstone, who Hand in the early 2000s and helped the defensive tackle shed more than pounds Hand for Saints, said he believes that many more linemen could face a similar fate as Hand once playing careers have ended. Shilstone pointed to studies showed linemen had greater of medical disorders, including hypertension, and disease to up assertion. been doing this 30 years and I classify the O- and D-line with waist measurements of greater than 40 as land of dead," said the director The Fitness Principle Jefferson General Hospital. "They just don't dead." Risk debated Just as word of Hand's was beginning spread last weekend, doctors at Tulane Center were putting the finishing touches on their health screening of former NFL players. The event was in partnership with a national program the NFL Player Care and supported by Living Foundation the Urological Association Dr. Patrice Delafontaine, who led the study that screened 28 former players for heart disease and prostate cancer, acknowledged that NFL at risk than other players for future heart "In players, particularly the linemen the players significant yes," Delafontaine, the director of Tulane Heart and Vascular Institute. these linemen, compared to are non-linemen, the incidence is really quite a higher. So they have an increased risk cardiac events such as strokes, heart attacks and etc." Still, the NFL convinced that are at greater health risk. As evidence, the pointed to a study last year by Dr. Andrew M. Tucker, a cardiologist Union Hospital in Tucker's study said despite being larger size and heavier an analysis the disease about 500 NFL players found that they a similar cardiovascular risk profile to population
 exercise. But for as many guys wHo are not exErcisIng And CaN't fiNd thE time to exercisE TherE are just as many who are keEping ThEMselVEs In shaPe. It's reALlY ON an InDiVidUaL BaSis, buT yeS I am conCerned abouT it FoR all my former PLaYers."

Local fItnEss guru MackiE ShIlstonE, wHo tRAined hanD in thE early 2000S And helPed the defEnSIve tacKLe shed mORE tHan 30 pOunds when Hand playED fOR the Saints, said He beliEvES tHAT maNy mOre linemen CoUld faCE a similAR fATE As HANd once their plAying careerS HavE ended.

shIlsTOne poiNted tO sTUdiEs that showeD linEmen had grEater iNStances OF medicaL disorDerS, inCludINg HyPerTeNSioN, DiAbeTEs aNd heart dIsEaSe to bAck uP HIS AsseRtiOn.

"I'vE been Doing this for 30 yEarS and i ClaSsify The O- aNd D-lInE with Waist mEasurEmEnts of greater thAn 40 as The land of The WaLkiNg Dead," sAId ShilStoNe, tHe execuTive dirECtoR oF tHE FItness Principle at EAsT jEfFerson GeNeral HOSpItAL. "They jusT dOn't Know THEy are Dead."

rIsK debated

just as WOrD oF Hand's dEaTh was bEgInnIng To sprEAd laSt weekEnd, doctoRs at TULane Medical CenTEr were putting THe FINiSHing TouChes on their PlanNEd heAlth SCrEenINg of fOrmer nFl PlAYers. The event was in paRtNershiP with A national progRam sponsorED BY the NFL PLayeR caRE Foundation and SuppoRted by the LIVing HearT FounDation anD the AmeriCAN UrologiCal assOciAtiON foUndation.

Dr. PatRICe DeLaFontainE, whO led the StuDy tHat ScrEeNed 28 former nFL playeRs FoR hEaRt dIseasE And prostAtE caNcEr, aCknowLEdged tHat NFl linEmEn ARe aT greateR RiSK Than OtHeR NFL PlaYeRs for FutuRE heArt probLems.

"In somE plAYers, PaRtIcularlY the linemen whO aRe the biggeR pLayErs it iS A SignificAnt issue, yes," said DelafontAIne, the dIreCtor oF the tulane HeaRt aNd VascUlaR institUte. "In tHese lInEmeN, COmparED To EveN oTher footbaLL PlaYers tHaT are Non-lineMen, the incidence is rEAllY quite a lot higHer. so thEY HaVe aN InCReaSeD RisK OF cardiac events sUch as strokEs, HEaRt attacks aND etC."

STill, the nFL isn't ConviNCed that Its playerS are at greAtEr heALTh rIsk.

As evideNce, the leAgue pointED to a sTUdY done LasT year bY DR. AnDrew M. tucker, A CarDioloGist at unIon MemOrial hoSpital in baltimore.

Tucker's study saId that DespiTe bEing largeR in SIze And heavieR in wEight, an anaLysIs oF the cArdIOvascUlar DIsEasE Risk fActoRS of about 500 Nfl pLayERS fOund that oveRALL, thEy havE a sIMilar cArdiOvascular risk profILe compared to thE genERAl pOpuLAtioN
 exercise. But for as many  guys whoare n otexe rc isin g an d can't find t h e ti me to exercise there a re ju st as m a ny  whoare kee p in g the ms el ves  i n  s hape.  It 's real ly on an i ndi vi dual basis,b ut  yes I amcon cerned about  it  for a ll  my forme r p layer s."

L o cal fi tness gur uM ackieS hilston e ,  w ho t rained Hand in th e  e a rly 2000s andhelped  t h ed e fen siv e tackle s he d mor e  than 3 0  p o u n dsw hen Hand play ed for theS ain ts, sa id  he believ es th at man y more line mencould fac e a si m ilar fa t e as Ha nd onc e t hei r pl a yi ng  ca re e rsh av e e n ded .

Shils to ne  poin tedt o s tudi esthat  show ed linemen ha d g reat e r i nstan ces o f me di cal d isorde rs, i nc luding hyperten sion , diabete s a nd  he ar t dis e ase to  ba ckup hisasserti o n.
" I ' v ebeen doing this fo r3 0  y ears and  I cla s si fy the O- a nd  D- line w ith w aist me asuremen ts ofg re at er than  4 0 as t he  la ndof th e  wal king d ead," sa id Sh i lstone, the ex e cutive direct o ro f  T h e Fi tne ss Principl e at East  Jef f er son Gener al Ho sp i ta l . "They just don'tkn ow the y are  dead."

Risk  debated
J u s t as wor d of Ha n d's death wasbegin ning to sp r ead last  week end, doc tors at T u l ane Medi cal  Ce nte r w e r eputting the f i n ishi ng  touche s o n their  pl ann edhea lt h screeni ng of fo rm er  N FL  pl ayers .  The eve nt  wa sinpartn e rshipwitha na ti on a l p rograms po n s ored  b ytheNFL  P layer  Car e  Fo undatio n and sup por t ed b yth e Livin g Heart Found at ion and th eAme ricanU r ological  Association Foundation . 

Dr. P atr ice D elaf ontaine,who  led t hes tudy t hat sc reene d28f o rmerN F Lpla ye rs for hea r t  di sease  a nd p rostate  cancer, acknowled g edthat NFL line men  are a tgre a te r  ri sk tha n other NFL playe rs for fut ur e  h eart probl e ms. 
"In som e playe rs, p a rticula rly the l inemen wh oaret h e b igger play ers it i s a signi f icant is sue,yes ," sai dDel afont aine,t hedirec tor of  t he Tul ane H ea rt and V ascular Institute. "Intheselinem en,  compared  to eve n other f ootb all player s t hat  arenon - linem en,t he  in c idenc e is really qu i te  al o thigher. Sot h e y h ave a n i n crease d ri sk of cardiac eve n ts such as str okes , hea rta ttac ks  and etc."

St ill ,t h e NFL is n' t convinced  that it sp layer s areat gre ater he a l th risk.
Asevi dence, th e l ea g ue poin te dt o a st udydo ne las t year by D r .  Andrew M. Tucke r, ac a rdiol o gis t atUn ion Mem o rial  Hospitalin Baltimor e.

Tu cker 's st udy sai dthat d esp it e being la r ger in si ze an d heavi er  inwei ght, a n an a l ysisof t he  ca rdiovascu l a rd is ea s e r iskfacto rs  ofabout 500 NFL play ers found t ha t o v e rall,t he y have a sim ila r car d i ovascularr iskp ro f ile c ompare d to t he gene r alpo pulatio n
 exercise._But for_as many guys who_are not_exercising_and can't_find_the time to_exercise there are_just as many who_are keeping themselves_in_shape. It's really on an individual basis, but yes I am concerned about it_for_all my_former_players."

Local_fitness guru Mackie Shilstone, who_trained Hand in the early_2000s and_helped the defensive tackle shed more than 30_pounds_when Hand played_for the Saints, said he believes that many more_linemen could face a similar fate_as Hand once_their_playing_careers have ended.

Shilstone pointed_to studies that showed linemen had_greater instances of medical disorders, including_hypertension, diabetes and heart disease to back_up his assertion.

"I've been doing this_for 30 years and I_classify the_O- and D-line with waist_measurements of greater_than 40_as the land_of the walking dead," said Shilstone,_the executive director_of The Fitness Principle at East_Jefferson_General Hospital. "They_just_don't_know they_are dead."

Risk debated

Just_as_word of_Hand's_death was beginning to spread last_weekend,_doctors at Tulane Medical Center were putting_the finishing touches on_their_planned health screening of_former NFL players. The event_was in partnership with a national_program sponsored_by the_NFL Player Care Foundation and supported by the Living Heart Foundation_and the American Urological Association Foundation.

Dr._Patrice Delafontaine, who led_the study_that_screened 28 former_NFL_players for_heart disease and prostate cancer, acknowledged that_NFL linemen_are at greater risk than other_NFL players for future_heart_problems.

"In some players, particularly the linemen_who are the bigger players it_is a significant issue, yes,"_said_Delafontaine,_the director of the Tulane_Heart and Vascular Institute. "In these_linemen, compared to_even other football players that are non-linemen,_the_incidence is really quite a lot_higher._So they have an increased risk_of_cardiac_events such as strokes, heart_attacks and etc."

Still, the NFL isn't_convinced that its players are at greater health risk.

As_evidence, the league_pointed to a study done_last_year_by Dr. Andrew M. Tucker, a cardiologist at Union Memorial_Hospital in_Baltimore.

Tucker's study said_that despite being larger in size and heavier in weight,_an analysis of the cardiovascular disease risk_factors of about 500 NFL players found that overall, they have_a similar cardiovascular risk profile compared to the_general population