The effects of concussions on NFL players have proven to be drastic, even deadly at times, over the years.
The new book from ESPN’s Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru, entitled League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth, delves deep into the issue, which includes a chilling story about late Hall of Fame center Mike Webster.
Webster, who was the first NFL player to be diagnosed with the mental disease CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), has his story chronicled in the book, detailing his fight with CTE and even some of the deranged thoughts he had during his final years.
Webster’s son told the authors that his father “frantically accumulated an arsenal of weapons and had seriously considered turning them on NFL officials, whom he blamed for his deteriorating mental condition,” according to ESPN.
There’s no mention whether Webster ever came close to following through on his thoughts before his death from a heart attack in 2002, although there will likely be further context in the book, which is set to be released next Tuesday. The book will also be accompanied by a documentary entitled League of Denial.
