THE SIDELINES : Croudip Kin Accept Death Ruling

Relatives of the late David Croudip have given up attempts to prove that the Atlanta Falcons defensive back did not die of a self-induced overdose of cocaine.

U.S. District Judge Gordon Thompson ruled last week in San Diego that the family could not prove that Croudip had been killed by his wife, Holly, Leslie Klein, attorney for Croudip’s mother, Josephine Thornton, told the Gwinnett Daily News.

Croudip, 29, collapsed and died in his apartment Oct. 10, 1988. His wife said he had been depressed and had drunk a cocaine-laced orange juice cocktail and ate a cocaine-coated banana before collapsing.

Klein said Croudip’s mother will not appeal and that the family was not surprised by the verdict.