Giants’ Cam Skattebo Claims CTE is Fake, Labels it as an “Excuse”

Cam Skattebo believes that CTE does not exist, implying that soft minded athletes use it an excuse to shield them from criticism.

Giants’ Cam Skattebo Claims CTE is Fake, Labels it as an “Excuse”

Cam Skattebo (image via IMAGO)

CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a neurodegenerative disease that is caused by repeated blows to the head. Most reported cases have been among athletes who play contact sports such as boxing, martial arts, football, rugby, and Australian Rules Football.

Common symptoms of CTE can include behavioral changes, Parkinsonism, and ataxia. Former NFL tight end Aaron Hernandez, who took his own life in a jail cell, had suffered severely from CTE caused by head trauma. Despite all the evidence of CTE’s existence, Cam Skattebo believes it’s all a ruse.

In a recent appearance on the Bring The Juice podcast, the New York Giants running back implied that CTE is an excuse that athletes and doctors have concocted and is not real. When the host asked Skattebo, “Do you think CTE is real?” Skattebo responded, “No! It’s just an excuse.”

Skattebo holds a similar view on Asthma: “Asthma is fake… Just literally, breathe air,” Skattebo said with a calm voice.

What happened to Cam Skattebo?

Skattebo burst onto the scene with a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in week 2 last year. His aggressive running style brought back memories of legendary fullbacks from the past, such as Mike Alstott and Peyton Hillis.

Giants' Cam Skattebo Claims CTE is Fake, Labels it as an "Excuse"
#44 New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo split two Kansas City Chiefs defenders (Image via IMAGO)

While it injected new life into the Giants’ run game, it also exposed Skattebo to injuries. During the Giants’ week 8 rematch against the Eagles, Skattebo left the field after suffering an ankle injury in the second quarter of the 38–20 loss. Later, doctors diagnosed him with a dislocated ankle. The injury ended his season early.

Surgery was required to reconstruct the injured part of his ankle. Following the successful operation, Skattebo addressed his fans for their support through the entire ordeal.

Thank you, everyone, for the support!! Surgery went well. I just want to thank the city of Philly for taking the best care of me. Every moment I spent in the hospital with family and friends, I felt loved and supported in every way … thank you to the doctors, surgeons, and staff that did their best work on me. This is just the beginning of my journey, and I can’t wait to show you guys all about it!!! GOD has a plan for me, stick to the course, and it will all work itself out, BRB.

Skattebo said in a social media post (HT/ESPN)

Skattebo finished his rookie season with 101 carries for 401 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. In addition, he caught 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

Skattebo provided a positive update on his recovery while appearing on the Rich Eisen Show. The 24-year-old shared that he’s recently gotten back into running and is currently operating at about 75 percent of his full capacity. To illustrate, Skattebo compared his speed with a lighthearted joke.

I can get away from like a baby hippo, maybe. That’s about it. But, yeah, a little bit over a jog. Just kind of striding out, not exploding yet, and getting into that part of the game, but the jog and the striding.

Cam Skattebo said

Skattbo ensured Eisen that he would be back before the training camp in July. The Giants are still on the lookout for running back reinforcements in free agency. Among the names on their list are Najee Harris and Jeremy McNichols.

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