Players Wearing Inferior Helmets

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Fry, May 10, 2011.

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  1. Fry

    Fry Welcome to the land of tomorrow!

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  2. TorontoTitanFan

    TorontoTitanFan Pro Bowler

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    One thing I've noticed is that some NFL teams have pushed their players toward the newer, safer helmets a lot more than other teams. Ultimately, it comes down to what the players and equipment managers agree on.

    The Titans are definitely not one of the teams to wholeheartedly adopt the new helmets. Hardly anyone on the Titans wears the new Riddell Revolution Speed (just some of the backup linebackers and maybe some of the D-lineman) and lots of guys still wear the old, less-safe helmets. Conversely, the Jaguars have tons of players wearing the new, safer helmets.

    Just an observation.
     
  3. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    Since we're talking helmets, did you guys realize back when the helmets were made of leather, concussions didn't happen very often... Today's helmets aren't just a piece of the uniform, they're now a part of the tackler. Players use to not use their heads to make hits, but now do because the protection is there. I'm not saying players should revert back to wearing underwear on their heads, but they would think twice about leaning with the crown of their head if their head wasn't encased in a weapon.
     
  4. World Peace

    World Peace Nephew Gunner

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    How safe was Gary Anderson's "One Bar" helmet?
     
  5. TorontoTitanFan

    TorontoTitanFan Pro Bowler

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    The concussion issue is not nearly that simple. First, concussions were rarely (if ever) diagnosed in the early days of football. Second, players were smaller, lighter and slower--making concussions less likely. Body equipment was also softer smaller, making soft-tissue injuries more likely but concussions less likely.

    As players got bigger and stronger, they needed better equipment to protect the rest of their bodies. Helmets also improved and tackling techniques evolved.

    The game has changed and it can't go back. If the league went back to soft helmets now, a bunch of guys would die.
     
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  6. Fry

    Fry Welcome to the land of tomorrow!

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    True, but players also didn't weigh over 250 lbs and run anywhere nearly as fast in the leather helmet days either. Not to mention the game wasn't as spread out as it is now with more passing, meaning players gain a lot more speed before collisions.

    There are two main problems: guys are wearing crappy helmets and even if they wear the better helmets they're not fastened correctly. Remember playing high school ball and how much of a pain it was to get your helmet on and off because it would almost pull off your ears? Do you EVER see that on tv when guys take their helmets off? Not once, and that's why you see Eli Manning getting a huge gash above his eye after barely hitting his runningback in the back field.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uf0DMcT998&feature=related
     
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  7. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    I'm well aware of the changes to the game, but regardless, there were less head injuries back then. On top of what you mentioned, the evolution of the helmet hasn't helped reduce concussions, it's increased them only because players now use their helmets not only to protect themselves, but to inflict damage on others.. Like the article says, today's helmets have eliminated skull fractures almost entirely. You rarely ever hear of a player cracking his head open. Guys eyes and teeth are no longer getting popped out either. Today's helmets allow the face mask to do it's job.
     
  8. TorontoTitanFan

    TorontoTitanFan Pro Bowler

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    It will be interesting to see if Jake Locker changes helmets in the pros. He wears an outdated model of helmet. I think it's crazy to let your quarterback, the most valuable player on your team (in most cases) go onto the field with an inadequate helmet, but lots of teams still allow it. Peyton Manning was one of the first guys in the league to switch over to a newer, safer helmet, but we still see most QBs in less safe helmets.
     
  9. wg53

    wg53 Starter

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    I think part of the problem here is awareness. Most players are probably not up to date on the best available protective equipment.
     
  10. Bababooey

    Bababooey Veteran

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    And yet there were more concussions on the Jags than Titans... hm.
     
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