RIP Don Banks

[Patriot Missile]

So sad. Lost my mom at 57, I can relate what his two boys must be going through. Life just isn’t fair sometimes.

Really liked him as a writer.

 

[blackglass3]

Always enjoyed reading his work. Rest In Peace, Mr. Banks

 

[TheRainMaker]

Dead in his sleep at 56 with no known health issues (at least that the public was aware of).

Can only think heart issue, stroke, or something drug related. Hate to think suicide but it has to be on the radar as well, albeit further down the list (although, by all accounts, Banks was happy and excited about his new job).

Wow. Really jarring, and quite sad.

I’m always skeptical about these “dying in their sleep” stories as he was only 57 until more information is available. While it does happen, it’s very rare when it happens to a person who is relatively young, healthy and has no pre existing conditions, specifically with the heart. And it’s very rare when people pass away like this due to an undiagnosed condition. I’m guessing there was some sort of heart condition we didn’t know about. Suicide is a possibility as well.

 

[Clonamery]

RIP. One less venerable scribe in the world.

 

[n6249c]

I’m always skeptical about these “dying in their sleep” stories as he was only 57 until more information is available. While it does happen, it’s very rare when it happens to a person who is relatively young, healthy and has no pre existing conditions, specifically with the heart. And it’s very rare when people pass away like this due to an undiagnosed condition. I’m guessing there was some sort of heart condition we didn’t know about. Suicide is a possibility as well.

Drug interactions with alcohol could also be a factor. You never know what medical conditions someone has if they are well controlled, but then some combination of sleep aids, medications and alcohol jumps up unexpectedly and turns the lights out...

 

[supafly]

I’m always skeptical about these “dying in their sleep” stories as he was only 57 until more information is available. While it does happen, it’s very rare when it happens to a person who is relatively young, healthy and has no pre existing conditions, specifically with the heart. And it’s very rare when people pass away like this due to an undiagnosed condition. I’m guessing there was some sort of heart condition we didn’t know about. Suicide is a possibility as well.

I’m not really feeling the conspiracy angle as much as you are, here. If they suspected suicide, we’d have heard about it by now. Whether he had a diagnosed condition or an undiagnosed condition (certainly possible), he passed and that’s a shame.

At least he went in his sleep, and at least he did what he loved up until the last day. It’s fitting that he died in Canton, covering the HOF ceremony.

 

[Wordsmyth]

There’s got to be more to the story than this.

Why?

 

[SBLIII]

Rest in peace Mister Banks. Great writer and great legacy left behind

 

[Nikolai]

Very hard to believe. One of the few great ones left. Though I wished he had more national exposure in the latter days, I thought it was cool he was featured on Patriots.com.

RIP

 

[italian pat patriot]

Shock...

Riposa in pace...

I still remember how many times i read his so good articles on S.I.

Pity and sad a men like him left so young...

Bad day...

 

[203Pat]

I really liked his work. He was working for Patriots.com for about a year and just left a month ago. He was on the Cover Two podcast and was always smart and informative. At least he got to go peacefully.

 

[qbno12]

Rest in Peace Mr.Don Banks. We'll miss your articles. One of the very few NFL writers I respect.

Thoughts and prayers to his wife and kids.

 

[Joey007]

I’m always skeptical about these “dying in their sleep” stories as he was only 57 until more information is available. While it does happen, it’s very rare when it happens to a person who is relatively young, healthy and has no pre existing conditions, specifically with the heart. And it’s very rare when people pass away like this due to an undiagnosed condition. I’m guessing there was some sort of heart condition we didn’t know about. Suicide is a possibility as well.

I had an Aunt pass away in her sleep very suddenly years ago in her mid 40’s. They looked through everything to see if something could’ve explained it such as a medication side effect. In the end they could not find any foul play other than the fact that she had heart failure.

It is indeed a rare thing, but it does happen.

 

[PatsDeb]

This is so sad. He was so young. I liked his writing and I liked that he was pro-Patriots. RIP Don.

 

[PatsDeb]

So sad. Lost my mom at 57, I can relate what his two boys must be going through. Life just isn’t fair sometimes.

Really liked him as a writer.

Sorry for the loss of your Mom so young...

 

[Dagg]

This thread strikes close to home lost my best friend a few months back in his sleep at age 47. Waaay to young and scary. Was a blood cot that traveled and killed him in his sleep. Shocked to hear this always like Don Banks and his work.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

My brother died at age 60, three years ago. He told his wife that he was having trouble sleeping and so he went into the living room to lay down on the couch. He died there, of a heart attack.

He had no history of heart issues, and he likely would have recognized them, as he was an MD. He was 6'1" 165 pounds or so, and ran triathlons. Never sick, never a drinker or smoker, dealt with stress as most doctors do, but seemed to always be on an even keel.

It can happen to anyone, sadly, at any time. It's made me try to be healthier, for sure, but I will never be as healthy and as fit as he appeared to be.

 

[maust]

His last piece was quintessentially representative of why the thinking NFL fan held him in such high regard. Worth the read when you get a few minutes

Browns recall ‘Hard Knocks’ lessons as Raiders take center stage

 

[tasmlab]

Drug interactions with alcohol could also be a factor. You never know what medical conditions someone has if they are well controlled, but then some combination of sleep aids, medications and alcohol jumps up unexpectedly and turns the lights out...

I've heard taking Ambien (a sleep aid) with alcohol can be mortally dangerous.

 

[Drewski]

RIP Mr. Banks.

I hope his wife and kids find some peace during this dark and confusing time.

I lost my mom 3 years ago tomorrow at the age of 65 - which while not 56 years young, isn't all that old by modern standards.

With my daughter starting Kindergarten two weeks back, the transition for her has been tough. What I wouldn't give for some Fluff (what my daughter called my mom) advice.