hard helmets

[OLD FAN MAN]

it is beyond time for the nfl to go to soft helmets. the hard helmet is dangerous during contact. time for soft helmets like boxing headgear. the hard helmet has caused numerous concussions and is a dangerous weapon imo, thoughts

[Myles]

I agree.   Imagine an inch of foam around the outside of each helmet.   

[gspdx]

I agree.  The "protection" that is used for the players is too often used as a weapon.  

[VikingsFanInChennai]

It's a freak incident, that seemed to have coincided with the helmet collision to the chest around the heart cycle that seemed to have stopped the heart. 

 

Helmets are designed to make sure the head isn't hit hard during the collision to the head. That's the foremost priority of head helmets - protecting the head, brain and all related functions flowing from there. 

 

Would soft helmets lead to more concussions and brain damage? 

 

You don't want to injure every player's brain every day by using softer helmets to avoid a freakish accident that happened ONCE in many decades of football history. 

 

When you make a change, make sure it doesn't have adverse effects. 

[Myles]

3 minutes ago, VikingsFanInChennai said:

It's a freak incident, that seemed to have coincided with the helmet collision to the chest around the heart cycle that seemed to have stopped the heart. 

 

Helmets are designed to make sure the head isn't hit hard during the collision to the head. That's the foremost priority of head helmets - protecting the head, brain and all related functions flowing from there. 

 

Would soft helmets lead to more concussions and brain damage? 

 

You don't want to injure every player's brain every day by using softer helmets to avoid a freakish accident that happened ONCE in many decades of football history. 

 

When you make a change, make sure it doesn't have adverse effects. 

I think they could be designed to be just as effective (or more) for the wearer but be a softer impact to the target.  

[gspdx]

15 minutes ago, VikingsFanInChennai said:

It's a freak incident, that seemed to have coincided with the helmet collision to the chest around the heart cycle that seemed to have stopped the heart. 

 

Helmets are designed to make sure the head isn't hit hard during the collision to the head. That's the foremost priority of head helmets - protecting the head, brain and all related functions flowing from there. 

 

Would soft helmets lead to more concussions and brain damage? 

 

You don't want to injure every player's brain every day by using softer helmets to avoid a freakish accident that happened ONCE in many decades of football history. 

 

When you make a change, make sure it doesn't have adverse effects. 

 

I personally wouldn't consider this play as a reason to change the helmets.  There are so many other plays where guys lower their head and launch, leading with the helmet.  They have been taught to use it as a weapon instead of protection.  The behavior needs to be changed.  Tackling doesn't require leading with the helmet.

 

Any change must be balanced with the other potential impacts.  

[coltsva]

Stop allowing the ball carrier to lower their head too. 

[crazycolt1]

4 hours ago, gspdx said:

 

I personally wouldn't consider this play as a reason to change the helmets.  There are so many other plays where guys lower their head and launch, leading with the helmet.  They have been taught to use it as a weapon instead of protection.  The behavior needs to be changed.  Tackling doesn't require leading with the helmet.

 

Any change must be balanced with the other potential impacts.  

The tackling technique has changed over the years.  Even in youth leagues they are taught to keep the head up when tackling. It's an unavoidable thing that is going to happen.  

[IndyEric07]

Even with changing the helmets to foam pads, theres still good chances of concussions. Mostly from whiplash or knocking a head against the ground or hard body part. The brain only has very little room to move in the skull and there’s not really anything that can be done to stop concussions from happening short of only turning football into 2-handed touch! Plus, if helmets are changed, then they need to take the plastic out of the shoulder pads!

[sb41champs]

In a "perfect world" - we'd have a "perfect helmet".

 

But - even with a "perfect helmet" - there would be those situations where injuries would occur.

 

It's a contact sport.

 

You can't have "perfect" in a contact sport.