Overview
- On the Bring The Juice podcast, the New York Giants running back said CTE is "an excuse" and agreed that "asthma's fake," adding people should "just literally breathe air."
- A short clip of the exchange spread widely on social media over the weekend, drawing sharp pushback from fans, reporters and medical advocates.
- Skattebo issued a public apology on Instagram and X, calling the remarks a tasteless joke and a lapse in judgment while saying he did not intend to downplay either condition.
- Former players criticized the comments, with ex-Giant Damontre Moore labeling the statements ignorant and warning that perspectives can change with experience.
- Coverage reiterated the medical consensus, citing Boston University’s 2023 finding that roughly 92% of studied former NFL players had CTE, and noted that the Giants and the NFL had not commented in the initial reporting window.