Ex-NFL Player, 29, Commits Suicide

Paul Oliver dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound, say police
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 26, 2013 6:16 AM CDT
Updated Sep 26, 2013 7:22 AM CDT
Ex-NFL Player, 29, Commits Suicide
In this Sept. 4, 2009, file photo, San Diego Chargers cornerback Paul Oliver stretches prior to an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)

The sports world is turning mournful eyes to Georgia, where former San Diego Charger Paul Oliver died Tuesday night from what police say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 29. The Union-Tribune reports that the incident occurred in his Marietta home in the presence of his wife and two juveniles; the former safety had two kids. CNN adds that police found his body at the foot of a staircase. Oliver played college ball at Georgia before joining the Chargers as a fourth-round pick in the 2007 supplemental draft. He played 57 games, with 12 starts, and was with San Diego until 2011.

USA Today notes he became a free agent last year. It shares several tough quotes, including this one, from former teammate Quentin Jammer: "Great guy. Great guy. ... The early reports were that he committed suicide, and he just didn't seem like that type of guy. You never know what somebody is going through, what's going on in somebody's life. I hadn't talked to him in a while. I wish now I could reach out to him. If I'd have known..." (It's not this week's only gloomy football news.)

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