BY CHRISTINE VALDEZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Concussions have made players step off the football field but now players are coming clean about their lies to remain on the field.

Pittsburgh Steeler Tory Polamalu admitted to the Dan Patrick Show that he had lied about his concussions. According to ESPN, Polamalu lied about his head injuries in order to stay on the field. Polamalu would continue to play after medical staff told him not to continue.

Polamalu said that players know how to distinguish a hit to the head that allows you to continue in the game or a hit that will require players to leave the game. He admitted to lying about his concussions but Polamalu said they were not big lies.

“I’ve had, I believe, eight or nine recorded concussions. We’ll have another conversation after I’m done playing football,” said Polamalu on the Dan Patrick Show. “When you get your bell rung they consider that a concussion – I wouldn’t … If that is considered a concussion, I’d say any football player at least records 50 to 100 concussions a year.”

Polamalu said that he is willing to hide his head injury because of the commitment players make to their team, teammates, and the sport.

Polamalu is the latest player to admit to hiding a head injury in order to play. Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher also admitted to lying about a concussion back in February.

Currently more than 2,400 retired NFL players are plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the NFL concerning concussions, according to ESPN. The former players are claiming that repeated concussions can lead to brain damage and that the league hid the information.