"I don't think you play throughout the season with awards in mind, to be honest," Crosby said. "To be recognized by the players for this one means a lot. The Hart, I was in the mix and to be that close, you'd love to win.A recent study found that some neurodegenerative causes of death (namely, AD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) were four times higher in US National Football League players than in the general population.21 No such trend in the prevalence of Parkinson disease was noted. Paradoxically, the overall mortality rate of these retired players was substantially lower than that of the general population. Independent replication of the study should help to clarify this puzzling dissociation of outcomes.

NOTES: DT Justin Smith practiced with a brace over his injured left arm for the second straight day. He is planning to play despite a partially torn triceps muscle that sidelined him for the final two regularseason games. David Akers and Billy Cundiff