31 Jul 2012

Titans NFL player found dead

6:48 pm on 31 July 2012

The Tennessee Titans NFL wide receiver O.J. Murdock has been found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The 25-year-old's body was found in his car parked by Middleton High School in Tampa, Florida, where he was a high school prodigy.

Tampa Police spokeswoman Andrea Davis says reports that Murdock had shot himself in the chest - like some other former NFL players to supposedly preserve their brains for the study of head injuries - were incorrect.

The Titans confirmed Murdock had not reported to training camp over the weekend because of an unspecified personal issue.

The Titans running back Chris Johnson was among those to react on Twitter to the news: "RIP to OJ murdock was a good guy and teammate. Cherish Every moment of life cause u can be here today an gone tomorrow," he said.