![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/new-york-giants-running-back-115544920.jpg\")
Cam Skattebo on a scooter after suffering his season-ending injury. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\nA Giants offseason that has seemingly been filled with plenty of positive vibes suddenly has a rather eyebrow-raising detour.<\/p>\n
Rising second-year running back Cam Skattebo said he believes Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and asthma are both fake medical conditions during an episode of the \u201cBring The Juice\u201d podcast.<\/p>\n
Host Frank Dalena asked the 24-year-old about the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated hits to the head that has afflicted plenty of football players: \u201cYou think CTE\u2019s a real thing?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d the former Arizona State star said while shaking his head. \u201cIt\u2019s an excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n
The conversation veered into another health topic when Dalena followed by stating he believes asthma, a chronic lung disease that can make breathing difficult, is also \u201can excuse too.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then asked Skattebo if that was a hot take, and the running back agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that\u2019s a good take,\u201d Skattebo said. \u201cYes, asthma\u2019s fake too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair drove the point home further, with Dalena mocking those with the condition, asking if there\u2019s anything worse than fourth-graders who are \u201chuffing and puffing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re just soft,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cam Skattebo on a scooter after suffering his season-ending injury. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n
Skattebo then provided another questionable response.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust literally breathe air,\u201d Skattebo said, while Dalena added: \u201cBe better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skattebo\u2019s remarks oppose plenty of available scientific data.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not the only athlete to say they don\u2019t believe in CTE, but the correlation with football players is notable.<\/p>\n
The Boston University CTE Center said in 2023 that 91.7 percent of former players (345 of 376) it studied had been diagnosed with the disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n Aaron Hernandez and Junior Seau are among the former NFL players who committed suicide and were later diagnosed with the disease.<\/p>\n Asthma does not have the strong link to football like CTE, but it\u2019s a disease that affects millions of Americans.<\/p>\n
![\"Ann](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2017-study-nfl-football-player-24887495.jpg\")
Ann McKee, director of Boston University\u2019s center for research into the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, addresses an audience on the school\u2019s campus Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 about the study of NFL football player Aaron Hernandez\u2019s brain, projected on a screen, behind right, in Boston. AP<\/p>\n