DRONETT’S DEATH RULED A SUICIDE

The death of former defensive lineman Shane Dronett has been ruled a suicide, according to the Beaumont Enterprise. Dronett, who was part of the 1998 Falcons Super Bowl team, was found dead in his suburban Atlanta home Wednesday morning at the age of 38. The specific cause of death is not going to be released out of respect for Dronett’s family, which includes his wife and two children. According to the Austin-American Statesman, Dronett had surgery about a year ago to remove a benign tumor in his brain. Former Texas teammates told the newspaper he wasn’t quite the same after the surgery. In addition to the Falcons, Dronett also spent four years with the Broncos and part of a season with the Lions. We send out our thoughts to his family at this incredibly difficult time.