Former Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy: NFL players don't know about CTE research

DeAndre Levy spoke in front of the Democratic members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee Friday and voiced frustration over a "football culture" which prevents NFL players from taking head injuries seriously.

"It bothered me that not one player knew anything about the CTE research. We see the headlines, but unless we're cued in and paying attention to it, I don't think a lot of guys will be able to link them," Levy said.

"I think we're aware that we'll have bad shoulders, we'll have bad backs, we'll have bad knees, I think a lot of us kind of know that that's par for the course.

"For the longest (time), a concussion to us was just a headache. A headache that if you could play through, you're good, once it's gone, it's gone. I think a lot of guys still have that mentality and still think about it. And I think there's still a good portion of guys that don't want to think about it, because honestly, it's frightening."

Levy said players "think it's normal" and would often joke in locker rooms about how forgetful they all are at home with their partners. He would often notice his mood change for reasons he couldn't explain, but it would feel like he was in a "fog" or a "funk."

“It’s frightening to consider that in five or ten years down the line, you could become a completely different person,” said Levy.