O.J. Simpson's Family Gives 'Hard No' to Request of CTE Studies - Report

Former Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson passed away on Thursday at the age of 76.

Dec 16, 1973; Flushing, NY, USA, FILE PHOTO; Buffalo Bills running back (32) O.J. Simpson breaks the / Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY Sports

The body of Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson will be cremated, the New York Post reports.

According to the Post, Simpson's longtime attorney and executor Malcolm LaVergne has already signed off on the paperwork for his cremation. However, Simpson's family reportedly gave a "hard no" when scientists asked to study his brain for research of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenarative brain disease that many football players have been posthumously diagnosed with.

Violent behavior is a symptom of CTE, so naturally, Simpson's family had many scientists asking to study his brain.

Dec 16, 1973; Flushing, NY, USA, FILE PHOTO; Buffalo Bills running back (32) O.J. Simpson breaks the / Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY Sports

“With OJ everything’s wild, but I’ve been getting calls from medical centers that are doing CTE testing asking me for OJ’s brain . . . that is not happening,” LaVergne said via the Post.

“I may consult with the children on it, but I haven’t heard anything about it, so it’s just not going to happen. OJ wants all of his body cremated for his children to do what they see fit.”

Simpson passed away on Wednesday at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer.

The first overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft, Simpson ran for 10,183 yards and 57 touchdowns in his nine seasons with the Bills. His best season came in 1973, when he won MVP and Offensive Player of the Year after becoming the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Simpson then spent two years with the San Francisco 49ers, his hometown team, to finish his NFL career.

Of course, Simpson is far more known for his legal history than his NFL career at this point. His trial in 1995 for the alleged double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman was an international event for several months. Simpson was ultimately acquitted of the murders, but was found liable for their deaths in a 1997 civil case and debate over his acquittal is still going almost three decades later.

LaVergne added that Simpson's body is expected to be cremated on Tuesday, and that the family is currently undecided on how to honor his legacy.

“Right now there’s no specific plans for a funeral service,” LaVergne said. “There is however a possibility that there will be a celebration of life-type service at a later date and time which will be limited to Mr. Simpson’s close circle of friends and family.”