Houston Texans safety Ed Reed has slammed the NFL as "shady" regarding the link between concussions and potential brain damage for players.

Excerpts of the book "League of Denial" were released this week that revealed that the league covered up the impact that concussions could have on players.

"The business of football is shady," Reed told ESPN. "The business of football is very shady. The fact that they would withhold information is bad.

"The fact that our CBA would not want that information, the fact that our older players would take money instead of getting that information is bad.

"The business of football, NFL football, is shady. Now we can't get that information anymore? It's just swept under the rug? That's bad."

Reed spent 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Texans this season.