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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 12:20 p.m., Thursday, January 22, 2009

NFL: Death of former Falcons DT Dronett ruled suicide

Associated Press

ATLANTA — The death of former NFL defensive lineman Shane Dronett has been ruled a suicide.

Ted Bailey, the Gwinnett County medical examiner's chief forensics investigator, said today that out of respect for Dronett's family no further details would be provided.

The 38-year-old Dronett, who played 10 years in the NFL and started every game for the Atlanta Falcons' 1998 Super Bowl team, was found dead at his home Wednesday.

Dronett played at the University of Texas and was a second-round pick by Dan Reeves and the Denver Broncos in 1992. Reeves brought Dronett to the Falcons in 1996.

Funeral services were pending under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, Texas.