Prior to the start of last season, the Dallas Cowboys received a significant blow to their chances of having a successful year. The Cowboys found out that their All-Pro center, 27-year old Travis Frederick, had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome is a rare disorder in which the body’s own immune system attacks the nerves. Early symptoms include weakness and tingling in extremities. For an NFL center, strength is a job requirement.
So, the discovery of the disease ended the sixth NFL season for Frederick before it even began, and sent the Cowboys scrambling to replace him.