Reggie Bush Claims ‘Ring of Death’ Caused Knee Injury

ST. LOUIS (CN) - Reggie Bush suffered a season-ending knee injury slipping on a surface in the Edward Jones Dome commonly known as the "concrete ring of death," the professional football player claims in court.

Bush sued the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority and the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, which run the Edward Jones Dome, in city court on Tuesday.

Bush, while playing for the San Francisco 49ers, suffered the knee injury late in the first quarter of a game against the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 1, 2015. Bush was running back a kickoff when his momentum carried him out of bounds and onto a concrete surface behind the 49ers bench when he lost his balance and suffered the injury.

Bush claims in the six-page lawsuit that the defendants knew about the dangerous propensity of the concrete surface, "now know by many as the 'concrete ring of death,'" after Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown injured his shoulder while slipping on the same concrete the week before.

Two weeks after Bush's injury, the defendants covered the concrete with a blue rubber pad, the complaint states.

Bush claims the defendants owed a duty to players, coaches, trainers, cheerleaders and fans to warn them about any dangerous conditions existing at the Edward Jones Dome.

"In violation of this duty, Defendants negligently permitted and maintained a dangerous condition to exist at the Dome, creating an unreasonable risk of injury to those invited on the field and surrounding surfaces, including Mr. Bush," the complaint states. "Specifically, the turf playing field was surrounded by a slippery concrete surface. This abrupt change in surface was not reasonably safe."

Phone calls and emails to the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority made late Wednesday seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Bush has amassed more than 9,000 yards and scored 57 touchdowns during his 10-year career. He seeks punitive damages for premises liability and negligence.

Bush is represented by John G. Simon.

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