1) Train the players (AR) to have their head on a swivel, if there is impending doom, get out of bounds NOW, live to run another play and this time hand the ball off to a running back at the 1 yard line for what is probably a sure TD within 3 plays. Swallow your pride.
2) Develop something for field-rebound-helmet-bounce-back positioned on the rear of the helmet (for lack of a better description). Let's gel-pad the "FRHBB"
3) Do away with old style field-turf (slit film turf) and start forcing stadiums to deploy much safer fields for "FRHBB"
(I fully realize that below refers to injuries not necessarily pertaining to head injuries)
4) Indy is one of six stadiums with the old dangerous stuff.
Slit film turf is currently used in six stadiums: MetLife Stadium (New York Giants and New York Jets), Ford Field (Detroit Lions), U.S. Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings), Caesars Superdome (New Orleans Saints), Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis Colts) and Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals).
In his letter, NFLPA president JC Tretter noted that games played on slit film turf have higher in-game injury rates compared to other playing surfaces. Non-contact injuries and foot and ankle injuries are among the injuries that statistically occur more on slit film turf, according to Tretter.
"The NFL and its experts have agreed with this data and acknowledge that the slit film field is less safe," Tretter wrote. "Player leadership wrote a letter to the NFL this week demanding the immediate removal of these fields and a ban on them going forward, both in stadiums and for practice fields. The NFL has not only refused to mandate this change immediately, but they have also refused to commit to mandating a change away from slit film in the future at all."