NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Seattle head coach Pete Carroll hosted a retired four-star general at the Seahawks facility last spring and blitzed him with questions about whether the 9/11 attacks “had been planned or faked” by the government, according to Deadspin.com.

Decorated general Peter Chiarelli, who had just called it a career, was discussing football and brain injuries with Carroll before the conversation took a turn, Deadspin reported.

“Every 9/11 conspiracy theory you can think of, Pete asked about,” former NFL linebacker Riki Ellison told Deadspin.

Ellison said Carroll “didn’t stop at 9/11—he had lots of questions about the role of the military today.”

Ellison founded the non-profit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. He connected Carroll with Chiarelli and was at the meeting along with offensive line coach Pat Ruel, according to Deadspin.

“Pete had a four-star general in the room, one of the army’s top guys,” Ellison told the website. “Why wouldn’t you push the envelope?”

It’s unclear whether the exchange went sour. One source close to the general told Deadspin that it got testy, though he wasn’t in the room. Meanwhile, Ellison insisted it was a “fun” discussion.

“Pete grew up in California during Vietnam, and during Watergate,” Ellison said. “That’s just the perspective he brings to the table.”

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