Real-life doctor who inspired film 'Concussion' says movie not an attack on football

WASHINGTON - The new movie 'Concussion' follows a forensic pathologist who fought against efforts to suppress his research on brain damage suffered by NFL players.

Will Smith plays Doctor Bennet Omalu, whose research on CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, in football players began in the early 2000s.

Omalu joined us Wednesday and told us that it began with his autopsy of former Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster in 2002.

"So on that day on the autopsy table I spoke to Mike, like I do speak to my patients, and I said to him -- Mike, let's do this together. Walk with me. Let us find out the truth. I think there's something wrong here," he said.

Omalu said he spent time analyzing the data collected from the autopsy and even took his findings to the NFL. He said he truly believed that they would welcome his results as a way to enhance the game and the lives of the players.

Instead, Omalu said, he received an aggressive push-back in an effort to discredit and marginalize his research.

In recent weeks, Omalu has published an op-ed in the New York Times titled, 'Don't Let Kids Play Football,' but says neither it, nor the new film, is an attack on the sport. He says it is rather a push to make sure informed decisions are made by parents and athletes.

The film, he says is about education, enlightenment and about protecting our children. "Wait until they get older to make that decision for themselves like we've done in other risky activities in our lives."

The film opens on December 25th. Find out more info here: http://www.concussion-movie.com/