A congressional investigation found the NFL attempted to influence a National Institutes of Health study on the link between football and brain injuries before pulling its funding when the NIH thwarted its attempts.
Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada of ESPN's Outside the Lines obtained the 91-page congressional report, which depicts in detail the NFL's improper strong-arming efforts. According to the report, the NFL was displeased with the choice of Boston University's Dr. Robert Stern and pulled its $16 million contribution when the NIH refused to change its selection.
"It's one of the most troubling and disturbing reports I've seen," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told OTL.