2 wk. ago • 92%

New NFL helmet accessory reduces concussions − but players and fans may not be ready to embrace safety over swag

theconversation.com New NFL helmet accessory reduces concussions − but players and fans may not be ready to embrace safety over swag

For the first time, players will be permitted to wear Guardian Caps over their helmets during regular season games.

11 comments

Peak fashion and safety.

6
Literally just a rugby scrum cap put on top of helmet....

The helmet and pads aren't helping shit, they make players believe they're protected but the damage is from your brain hitting the inside of your skull.

The cap isn't even used in rugby to prevent concussions, and even have a label that says they're not meant to prevent concussions. It's just a little outside padding to keep your ears on and prevent massive goose eggs.

5
- The helmet and pads aren't helping shit, they make players believe they're protected but the damage is from your brain hitting the inside of your skull.
  
  It's effectively a crumple zone for your skull - it's increasing the time of impact, reducing the jolt and therefore the impact of your brain against the inside of your skull.
  
  To be clear, no I don't think they're wildly effective, but they definitely do something.
  
  13
  
  Is it better to have on a football helmet when making contact at those speed head to head?
  
  Absolutely.
  
  But without helmet, no one would do that because it fucking hurts.
  
  Helmets are there to prevent pain, it's like if you got tired of how expensive gas was so you broke your gas gauge so that it always read full.
  
  You're still going to run out of gas someday, itll just be a surprise.
  
  Repeated hits without the pain means you're not really understanding all the damage to your brain.
  
  2
I didn’t realize and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the league is allowing these helmets in-game this year.

I assumed they’d never allow that since the “crunch” is such a big part of the product.

Maybe there’s hope for humanity yet.

4
- Brain injuries are an existential threat to the NFL. They're going to jump on anything to cut it down as long as it isn't changing the game or shutting down operations.
  
  3
  
  Now that they’ve been shown to be covering up brain injury and concussion issues and lack of support for retired players for ages right?
  
  1
I welcome the addition of ERA to football helmets.

3

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