Fitzgerald Cecilio

Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu confessed he has been hiding concussions from the team to stay playing on the field.

The former Defensive Player of the Year told the "Dan Patrick Show" Wednesday that he has played through at least eight concussions without telling the team's medical staffs about its symptoms.

The 2010 AP Defensive Player of the Year added football's culture as a sport for real men motivates to keep going despite nursing concussions.

Yes I have, for sure," Polamalu told Patrick Wedneday. "There's so much built up about team camaraderie and sacrifice. Football is such a tough man's game. ... It would be no different than the guy who goes to the mines in West Virginia. It's that kind of commitment you need to play football."

With or without conlcussions, Polamalu remained one of the most menacing defensive threat on the football field, racking up 457 tackles and 9 sacks over nine productive seasons.

Steelers' Troy Polamalu Says He's Lied About Concussions - NFL Concussion Crisis