Last week, the National Football League returned for another season alongside a few new rule changes.
One of these new rules allows NFL athletes to wear Guardian Caps on their helmets in regular season play for the first time. As NFL executive Jeff Miller said, the caps have aided a nearly 50% reduction in concussions, this is a huge step in the right direction for football.
The NFL describes a Guardian Cap as a “soft-shell helmet cover that will reduce the severity of impact on certain hits.” With the tremendously high number of concussions and head injuries for football players, I don’t see why this wasn’t an option years ago. I still credit the NFL for promptly introducing more protection rules over the past few years, though.
However, with the new rule being implemented, there was still backlash on the caps worn for real games. Fans expressed their frustrations about the helmets looking different and out of style, and a few players have complained that the caps aren’t natural. Former NFL star J.J. Watt even said he “personally wouldn’t wear one” if he was still playing. It’s quite ironic coming from someone who sustained multiple concussions and missed over 40 games in his NFL career.
It makes zero sense to me why fans or even players would be upset by the option of extra protection. We’ve seen hundreds of athletes forced to retire and deal with the effects of numerous head injuries building up, but our concern is that the helmets look too bulky.
At least the NFL is offering the caps to players though. In the NCAA, it’s not the same story. While teams may use them in practice, they are not permitted to wear them in games. Not only should more players take advantage of the Guardian Cap, but it should be offered for all levels of football at any time. No matter what age the athletes are, they are at risk of major brain and head injuries when they step onto that field. Why are we compromising that for a sleeker look?
Our Ferris football athletes should have the choice to wear the caps just like the NFL players do. While they’re striving towards a future in football and furthering their life choices, they shouldn’t have to be worried about being able to remember their college experience. They shouldn’t have to be worried about brain damage. They shouldn’t have to be worried about their safety on the field.
Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson said it best after he wore the cap in their week one matchup against the Houston Texans.
“There’s no amount of aesthetic that could outweigh what a traumatic brain injury could do to you,” Granson said. “I want to inspire kids to think that health and safety is cool. You can do cool things out on the football field and wear a Guardian Cap.”
It’s obscene that a helmet cap can cause so much controversy among sports fans. However, the NFL is on the right path safety-wise, and I hope more players and leagues will follow suit with the new rulings as time goes on.