From 2021: Guardian Caps: The new helmets worn by several NFL teams (profootballnetwork.com) "As you have scrolled through your favorite team’s Twitter or Instagram feeds this week, you might have noticed something jarringly different. Gone, for many, are the hard-shell NFL helmets football players have worn for decades. They have been replaced by something that looks like it’s out of science fiction. They’re called Guardian Caps. The easiest way to describe the visual, for those who haven’t: A helmet that Marvel’s The Thing would wear if he played football and was somehow at risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). But the new-look headgear popping up in NFL training camps from coast to coast isn’t made of rocks. Quite the opposite, actually. It’s soft, lightweight, and flexible. And because it is soft, lightweight, and flexible, the closed-cell polyurethane foam covering might be helping save the lives of some of the NFL’s strongest men. These helmet covers are the Guardian Caps. They’re designed to dissipate the dangerous energy of repeated blows to the head. They snap on top of the players’ regular helmets, providing two levels of protection. “Obviously, we are hitting every single play, all practice, all year,” said Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler, one of dozens of NFL players now practicing with an added layer of protection. “It’s supposed to help us with preventing concussions. The Dolphins have done a really good job at player safety and making sure that they are giving us the best and the safest equipment.”
Makes sense- if the science says they work, make them mandatory. Why just practices though? They should be game-worn as well.
Yeah, so am I. Everything possible should be done to prevent potential brain damage and head injuries for all players.
I see Deions team Jackson State has been using them already. Im all for it honestly, what i find weird are the people who are CTE/brain damage deniers.. why must everything be a conspiracy to them is beyond comprehension..
I don’t think there are many deniers. You could see that impact in professional boxers. (Ali) I do think some people (me included) are doubtful just cause a player does something illegal it’s necessarily a result of CTE. I also think there’s a lot we don’t know still. Regardless, I’m all for making the sport and gear as safe as possible for players. We talk about players making millions. What we sometimes fail to consider is that they are sacrificing quality of life in their elder years. That’s gotta be worth something significant.