“It’s Not Something You Joke with” – Emmanuel Acho Lashes out at Cam Skattebo over ‘Fake’ CTE Debacle

Emannuel Acho went off against Cam Skattebo for making fun of CTE by mentioning a real life example.

“It’s Not Something You Joke with” – Emmanuel Acho Lashes out at Cam Skattebo over ‘Fake’ CTE Debacle

Giants running back Camm Skattebo splits two Kansas City Chiefs defenders and Emmanuel Acho inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

In the age of cancel culture, it is wise to be cautious about what one says or writes on social media platforms. What one person finds funny might mean something completely different to someone else, especially when it’s about a sensitive topic. For Cam Skattebo, CTE might not seem to be much of a concern, but for NFL athletes who suffer from it, the condition can feel like nothing short of a curse.

Emmanuel Acho spent several years in the league before switching to broadcasting after retirement. He interviewed Keana Strzelczyk, the wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Justin Conrad Strzelczyk.

Football fans might still recall the tragic event that occurred on September 30, 2004. Justin Strzelczyk crashed his vehicle into a tank truck at 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) and died on impact. According to Acho, the investigation revealed that Strzelczyk, 36 at the time of his death, had CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

So, calling CTE a fake condition did not land as a joke to Acho. He called out Cam Skattebo during a recent segment of Speakeasy. From his perspective, the New York Giants running back should be the last person joking about CTE, given how likely he is to develop it with the way he plays football.

[CTE] is not something you joke with, play with, or play about… [Cam] Skattebo, YOUUU shouldn’t be making that joke… It’s not even a tasteless joke; it’s a detrimental joke… It’s not a tasteless joke; it’s a dangerous joke.

Acho said

Props to Skattebo for realizing his mistake early and issuing an apology, but Acho raises a valid point. Skattebo’s explosive movements and his inclination to dive headfirst into a group of players almost twice his size may excite fans, but they also heighten his risk of injury.

And the 25-year-old is currently recovering from one, which he suffered in week 8. During the Giants’ rematch against rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, Skattebo popped his ankle. He underwent surgery to repair the injured part and is expected to make a complete recovery by the off-season training camp.

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.

Skattebo told Rich Eisen on his show

How did Cam Skattebo perform during his rookie NFL season?

Despite his impressive CV at Arizona State, draft specialists projected Skattebo to go undrafted. The Giants did not let that happen by taking him 105th overall (fourth round).

"It's Not Something You Joke with" - Emmanuel Acho Lashes out at Cam Skattebo over 'Fake' CTE Debacle
Cam Skattebo (Image via IMAGO)

Although Skattebo did not exactly mirror Saquon Barkley, he still showed enough of an X-factor for the Giants to take a chance with him. -3 yards on 2 carries in his debut game raised question marks. However, he improved every week.

In the Giants’ 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Skattebo had 25 carries for 79 yards. But in his first-ever appearance against the Eagles, Skattebo went 98 yards on 19 carries and scored 3 rushing touchdowns. The next week against the Denver Broncos, he carried the ball 16 times for 60 yards, caught 3 passes for 6 yards, and scored a receiving touchdown.

Skattebo appeared in 8 total games before breaking his ankle. He racked up 101 carries for 410 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. He further added 24 catches for 207 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.

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