Marcellus Wiley on the NFL Lying & Denying CTE in Football
656Retired athlete, Marcellus Wiley played as a defensive end during his career in the NFL and during those times he has admitted to receiving a few concussions. With Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) being widely recognized in athletes who have succumbed to erratic behavior and memory loss following repeated concussions. In recent times, there have been instances within athletes who had the same symptoms, which led to unfortunate outcomes. One, in particular, is the death of Junior Seau who was suffering from a degenerative brain disease before taking his life. The football veteran died from a self-inflicted gun wound to the chest, which Marcellus Wiley believes was to preserve his brain for CTE research. "I had seen him maybe four months before that in San Diego at his restaurant event [and] went to his ring of honor ceremony and you didn't really see it coming."
After seeing his former teammate for the final time and learning of his death afterward, he says the experience humbled him and that he feels the need to inform his son about the dangers that come with football. As for how the NFL denying that concussion during athlete's NFL career have lead to CTE, Wiley says it's all to protect the multi-billion dollar industry. "They're lying like most people lie for advantageous reasons and to protect your interests," Wiley told DJ Vlad.
Watch the full interview above.