ESPN says collaboration with PBS on concussion documentary was 'mistake'

ESPN has responded to allegations it was pressured by the NFL to end its involvement with the PBS "Frontline" documentary "League of Denial," which reportedly casts the NFL in a negative light with respect to how the league handles head injuries.

Via Paul Pabst, a producer at "The Dan Patrick Show," ESPN issued the following statement:

We made a mistake 12-15 months ago by putting our name on something, while giving up (editorial) control.

We started seeing the promos and the other material around the documentary and we realized we made a mistake.

The decision was made earlier this week…Monday or Tuesday.

It’s not that we don’t trust Frontline…but giving up control was wrong.

It’s embarrassing, because we know how it looks. We know that this is a bad day for us, but this is not a larger agenda.