EXCLUSIVE
They're 3 scary letters ... but Howie Long says when it comes to CTE, the NFL is doing "as good a job as you can" in preventing players from suffering brain injuries on the field.
CTE is a hot topic in the NFL at the moment, especially with Will Smith's "Concussion" movie about to hit theaters ... and Frank Gifford's family revealing he had been diagnosed with the disease before he died.
Long told us he experienced "some head trauma" during his 13 year career -- but "nothing significant" -- and seemed more concerned for players like Gifford who took bigger hits as a running back and a WR.
But looking forward, Long says he likes what the NFL has done to try to protect players -- which is a big deal since Howie currently has 2 kids in the league.
