Guardian cap

[theaardvark]

Size is not all. The internal cushion matters too. They have started to manufacture position specific helmets now, the QB one has specific padding meant to protect one's head from a bounce on the turf which they have determined is the most common cause of QB concussion. So far there are 3 helmets approved just for QB's and Dru is not wearing one. Riddell makes 2 and Vicis the other. That said I am not sure if anyone in the CFL is wearing a position specific helmet as they are relatively new.

Dru's injury, from what I saw, would not have been lessened bu a QB specific helmet.  The hit was from the side, and he did not have his lid on securely, so it came off, possibly doing neck/concussive damage as well. 

Yes, lids with bigger padding in the back for head to turf collisions would be a fantastic idea for all QB's.  Maybe even a HANS type collar is they could do it without limiting vision.  Or that big widget like Neufeld wears.

[Waffler]

https://theconversation.com/new-nfl-helmet-accessory-reduces-concussions-but-players-and-fans-may-not-be-ready-to-embrace-safety-over-swag-236928

"In a multibillion-dollar sport in which the helmet is the preeminent branding space and symbol of the game, what happens when the imperative of player safety conflicts with its visual appeal?

We're about to find out."

Interesting read. I am curious to see what happens in the NFL,  probably the same as CFL though. One person wearing it so far as I know.

[Jesse]

https://theconversation.com/new-nfl-helmet-accessory-reduces-concussions-but-players-and-fans-may-not-be-ready-to-embrace-safety-over-swag-236928

"In a multibillion-dollar sport in which the helmet is the preeminent branding space and symbol of the game, what happens when the imperative of player safety conflicts with its visual appeal?

We're about to find out."

Interesting read. I am curious to see what happens in the NFL,  probably the same as CFL though. One person wearing it so far as I know.

I'm not sure why the caps aren't in team colours with the logo included.

[TBURGESS]

This is what they remind me of...

[theaardvark]

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2011/10/news-kelso-s-helmet/



No idea why a Guardian Cap can't be like this...

[Waffler]

Since we are posting pics, my first thought of it was this.

[Tecno]

lol. The great gazoo! Why don't we issue the Michelin man padding. Or have the. Linemen who never get concussed a sumo wrestling suit.

Every player can play the whole game in the ad-break hamster balls.  There will be lots of nausea, but at least no one will get injured!

It'll be tricky to throw the ball into the one little hole though.

[J5V]

Marino, Brown, et al go after whatever they can, heads, knees, ankles, etc. The temptation to injure and thus remove a player that is killing your team must be tremendous. Let's not be naive. Teams have had bounties on star players in the past and no doubt do today. Whatever a guy like Brown gets fined for taking out a QB will pale on what the bounty may pay him. The answer to protecting our star players lies in the hands of the players association IMO. If they will do nothing, how can any other part of the CFL be held accountable? What ever happened to brotherhood?

[Tecno]

The answer to protecting our star players lies in the hands of the players association IMO. If they will do nothing, how can any other part of the CFL be held accountable? What ever happened to brotherhood?

But QBs only hold around 1/24th of the seats at the big PA table...  And D's hold 1/2.  I wonder who wins those "protect the QB" votes, eh?

[J5V]

But QBs only hold around 1/24th of the seats at the big PA table...  And D's hold 1/2.  I wonder who wins those "protect the QB" votes, eh?

As you've said before, the issue extends beyond QBs. Receivers, for example, also need protection from predatory D players. You can't be successful as an organization if one part is harming the other. All professional leagues have come to this realization.

[theaardvark]

There are not a whole lots of injuries, percentage wise, of players in the league.  The protective equipment is quite effective, considering the wear and tear that players are subjected to. 

Can we come up with devices that better protect players? 

Helmets already reduce head injuries an incredible amount, can they get that number to zero?

Braces reduce strain on joints to prevent re-injury, are there devices that can be used to prevent injury in the first place?  Devices that stop knees from bending past their natural range of motion, or ankles from rolling... 

I'm sure there could be an exoskeleton that protects a player from any injury, but any device that protects also limits mobility.  Guardian Caps do have an effect on a players movements, and make them a slightly larger target.  For some players, that extra protection is worth it.  For most, they think it makes them look weak. 

In the end, for most of this, testosterone rules.  Cups, knee pads, thigh pads, flak vests, guardian caps.  Not sure what the league rules are about protective equipment, can LB's still wear the Osh mega shoulders?  Would they?

[Jesse]

There are not a whole lots of injuries, percentage wise, of players in the league.  The protective equipment is quite effective, considering the wear and tear that players are subjected to. 

Can we come up with devices that better protect players? 

Helmets already reduce head injuries an incredible amount, can they get that number to zero?

Braces reduce strain on joints to prevent re-injury, are there devices that can be used to prevent injury in the first place?  Devices that stop knees from bending past their natural range of motion, or ankles from rolling... 

I'm sure there could be an exoskeleton that protects a player from any injury, but any device that protects also limits mobility.  Guardian Caps do have an effect on a players movements, and make them a slightly larger target.  For some players, that extra protection is worth it.  For most, they think it makes them look weak. 

In the end, for most of this, testosterone rules.  Cups, knee pads, thigh pads, flak vests, guardian caps.  Not sure what the league rules are about protective equipment, can LB's still wear the Osh mega shoulders?  Would they?

Keeping in mind that the Guardian Caps are to help prevent CTE, which is a cumulative effect which may or may not ever result in missed games. I don't know how anyone can claim there are a low amount of injuries. I imagine, percentage wise, injuries are at 100% across the league. Many will experience deficits of various types throughout their life.

Not to mention the average life expectancy of a professional football player is somewhere in the 50s.

Yup. Just a ridiculous statement, aards.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Keeping in mind that the Guardian Caps are to help prevent CTE, which is a cumulative effect which may or may not ever result in missed games. I don't know how anyone can claim there are a low amount of injuries. I imagine, percentage wise, injuries are at 100% across the league. Many will experience deficits of various types throughout their life.

Not to mention the average life expectancy of a professional football player is somewhere in the 50s.

Yup. Just a ridiculous statement, aards.

That's shocking, a phenomenon of that magnitude is usually investigated or hushed up by special interests.

[theaardvark]

Keeping in mind that the Guardian Caps are to help prevent CTE, which is a cumulative effect which may or may not ever result in missed games. I don't know how anyone can claim there are a low amount of injuries. I imagine, percentage wise, injuries are at 100% across the league. Many will experience deficits of various types throughout their life.

Not to mention the average life expectancy of a professional football player is somewhere in the 50s.

Yup. Just a ridiculous statement, aards.

My point was that protective equipment is pretty much maxed out, you are not going to get 100% injury free, so making the injuries that happen less is the key.  Advances in equipment and in training/preparation has reduced certain injuries, for sure.  With our game and our rules, I am surprised injuries are as low as they are, say, compared to NFL.

Does that happen with equipment alone?  Nope

Do we need more rule changes to make it safer, more suspensions to bring accountability to players for actions that injure?  That would help.

Do we change the actual game to remove plays that cause injuries?  Not sure if there are stats on which plays cause most injuries, short yardage, deep pocket drops, punt returns... are there rules that can be implemented so that players do not have to make plays that lead to injury. 

Do we increase the penalty for injuring a QB after the ball has left?  Do we give a ref a second type of whistle, or an electronic tone that is set off to signal "balls out", making the QB at that moment untouchable?  Make linemen/rushers cease hostilities once that signal goes off?  Make fines/penalties harsher with those infractions.  Sit out 5 plays for the first offense, ejection for the second, plus 15 yards? 

Not suggesting we go to flag football, but are there some plays where we could implement a way to resolve the play without the actions ending in injury?   

[theaardvark]

As to life expectancy of players being in their 50's, are you including players that played with no helmets at all?  And players that played without concussion spotters, who were given some smelling salts and sent back in?

Rules have changes, equipment has changed, and players that play under these new rules and with this new equipment haven't reached their 50's yet, so I assume that number will continually rise.

Are pro football players expected to live to the full life expectancy of someone who never played a contact sport?  Of course not.  And neither do coal miners, or underwater welders, or any of a myriad of other professions a lot less well compensated for.

Let alone getting paid to play a game you love.

No one is forced to play football, and no one playing football does so without knowing the risks.