🏈 Is it time to retire the football helmet?

[bamatommy]

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[BAMAFSTBACK]

Good read. I too played a little Rugby and have said all along that you don't hit the same way. I seriously doubt the helmet would go anywhere however. It just wouldn't be football. I think they are spot on with making rule changes that might help.

 

[RollTideinGA]

Bring back the leather helmets!

 

[Flyboy70]

It would look weird if they ever did phase out the helmets.

 

[LBS]

Good read. I too played a little Rugby and have said all along that you don't hit the same way. I seriously doubt the helmet would go anywhere however. It just wouldn't be football. I think they are spot on with making rule changes that might help.

Played a little international Rugby myself as well. Two point there: Forst, we "Yanks" did play with a chip on our shoulder intent upon bringing the pounding of American Football to our matches (We did, and it was clear that there was a difference in the international's opinion.); Second, one does come off the point of contact because your pumpkin is out there exposed.

In defense of helmets, I'll use this to point out that the helmet was the catalyst for greater force, but rules and self governance can be restraining element as well. (i.e. the game will be what we tell it to be.)

 

[IllinoisTideFan]

Dhani Jones, a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals who has played rugby, too, says head injuries in that sport do happen, but they're mostly freak accidents. "In football, you're taught to hit with your face," he says.

:shock:

 

[ExiledTidefan]

Perhaps keep the face covered somehow, with goggles or a visor, but make the helmet more like wrestling helmets, to protect the soft areas of the skull.

For some people, since their head is already so soft, they still need the helmet.

OBTW, this is a stupid, stupid idea. Instead of getting rid of helmets, more technology should be used to make them safer and prevent neck and brain injuries. I am sure we could be doing more in these areas. Why did neck rolls ever disappear from the game? Why not have a more dynamic version of the HANS device used in NASCAR developed? Sure, it couldn't and shouldn't look and act just like the HANS unit, but perhaps share some it's theory...

 

[CrimsonPirate]

Playing without a helmet worked for Gerald Ford. No. Wait. Maybe it didn't.

 

[KRYMZENTYDE]

Perhaps keep the face covered somehow, with goggles or a visor, but make the helmet more like wrestling helmets, to protect the soft areas of the skull.

For some people, since their head is already so soft, they still need the helmet.

OBTW, this is a stupid, stupid idea. Instead of getting rid of helmets, more technology should be used to make them safer and prevent neck and brain injuries. I am sure we could be doing more in these areas. Why did neck rolls ever disappear from the game? Why not have a more dynamic version of the HANS device used in NASCAR developed? Sure, it couldn't and shouldn't look and act just like the HANS unit, but perhaps share some it's theory...

Great idea.

 

[British Bama Collective]

I've seen plenty of concussions in Rugby, usually caused by the back of the head hitting the ground. The Aussie rules comparison seems odd- AFL football is a game of speed, everyone has to be able to handle and pass, etc. The average AFL player resembles a wide receiver, physically. Football in America is a game of explosiveness, with guys who do one thing really really well- pass, block, run, or tackle. If you've got 300lb lineman crashing into you full-on, of course you're going to get hurt more often.

 

[BamaCore]

When I hear someone talk about phasing out helmets, it sounds almost as ridiculous as phasing out seat belts in cars.

 

['65 Cobra]

I've always thought that if you remove helmets from the game, head injuries will drop... But it won't be the same game and you've only addressed one specific type of injury.

The bottom line is that it's still all about physics. F=ma (P=mv) - players are larger and faster than they've ever been (especially on the line of scrimmage). This means an increase in force(momentum) when two bodies collide. You can't force players to run less quickly, but you can institute weight restrictions. Just an idea.

 

[mando]

Didn't expect to see this in the sports forum.

physics. F=ma (P=mv)

65 Cobra upgrading this forum...

 

[russb8903]

When I hear someone talk about phasing out helmets, it sounds almost as ridiculous as phasing out seat belts in cars.

Agreed, I'm always curious why people who think removing helmets is the magic fix think helmets were introduced in the first place. Because people were getting all sorts of head injuries and dying prior to helmets. Better go back to that for sure.

 

[OldPlayer]

Agreed, I'm always curious why people who think removing helmets is the magic fix think helmets were introduced in the first place. Because people were getting all sorts of head injuries and dying prior to helmets. Better go back to that for sure.

But if they don't have helmets, they won't use their head to tackle. . .

It's the gun argument of sports

 

[JoshB]

Always blows my mind when people bring this argument up. People were dying ON THE FIELD very often (in comparison today) back then and I can only imagine how much more that would happen now considering that athletes are bigger, stronger and faster. You want a sure fire way of ending football? Take helmets away.

 

[JoshB]

I just saw this thread is from 2009? WTF