Former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowlers Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell were allowed in the same room together on Monday.
Brown’s “CTESPN” podcast featured two former stars discussing his unceremonious departure from Pittsburgh.
They spoke openly about their thoughts and fears about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
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The disease causes mental deterioration in people who have suffered repeated concussions or traumatic brain injuries, and is common among NFL players.
Brown, in particular, has been suspected of having the disease, as he has repeatedly claimed to have it in social media posts, including writing in a September 2023 post, “She knows I have CTE and that’s why she’s licking me.” Submitted Videos A letter to X. In April, he wrote that his “CTE is getting worse.”
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During an interview with Bell on Tuesday, Brown asked his former teammate if he thought he had the disease, and Bell said he didn’t think Brown had it, nor did he think he had it.
Brown then offered his own definition, which differs significantly from the medical definition: Brown rejected the idea that CTE causes “brain damage.”
“I don’t want to say it’s brain injury, because you can’t survive with brain injury,” Brown said. “I think some people try to frame CTE as a form of concussion, but I’ve had a lot of concussions, you know what I’m saying. You can have a concussion and still survive.”
Antonio Brown of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up before a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on January 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Bell initially said he believed CTE was directly related to brain injury, but subsequent discussions have not changed his position.
Brown said he believes CTE is a series of traumatic events. He cited Bell’s experience earlier in the show, when he was just 4 years old and had to play defensive and offensive line because his uncle wanted him to get used to being hit with a football.
“I think that’s a hallmark of trauma that we all go through as humans,” Brown said. “Any kid who has to go through that has some trauma, because they become more aggressive. They get angry.”
On November 12, 2017, during the second half of a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh Steelers guard Le’Veon Bell (26) used a powerful arm to deflect off the Indianapolis Colts guard Pierre Desir (35). (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
But Brown has previously said he believes the CTE was caused by a hit from a former teammate. Steelers linebacker James Harrison During an Instagram Live session on February 4.
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“I just wanted to let everyone know that I believe James Harrison gave me CTE,” Brown said. “James Harrison wore an illegal helmet for over 20 years in the NFL, and he hit me once, and after he hit me, I became very aggressive, so I blame James Harrison for my CTE.”
In December, Domestic violence charges were filed against Brown. He was indicted after an incident at his Florida home. The charges were ultimately dismissed. In October, he was ordered to pay $1.2 million to a moving truck driver for an alleged assault that occurred in February 2020.
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