Troy Aikman: The Genius

[Brando19]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/22/aikman-suggests-getting-rid-of-helmets/

Troy Aikman gave his two cents on concussions in the NFL. He suggests the NFL get rid of helmets, then players would think twice about diving around the way they do. Maybe this genius could also suggest banning helmets on motorcycles or bicycles. Hell...this is Troy Aikman...he'd probably suggest taking away astronaut's helmets!

[pbmax]

Troy doesn't remember (not because of concussions but because of youthfulness) that helmets were first used to prevent skull fractures and lacerations. Pick your poison.

[HowardRoark]

I think he is speaking allegorically, or metaphorically, or maybe speaking hyperbolically.....or something.

Just paint what you see Troy, don't let anyone say it's wrong.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Let's go back to the old hard-leather helmets with no facemasks.

It would take some violence out of the game, plus eliminate facemask penalties, which are a pain in the neck.

[Noodle]

I don't know if you're kidding or not, Maxie, but I think you're exactly right. The stuff I've read (and no, I'm no expert) really does indicate that improving the helmet is not the answer to the concusion problem. The players go too fast, their heads stop too quickly and violently, and the brain just gets sloshed around. No amount of padding or plastic will stop that.

So, in fact, I think Aikman is correct. Take off the face mask, put 'em in leather, and players would go back to tackling with their shoulders in stead of their facemasks.

If the NFL and fans really cared about player health, I think this is the single best thing they could do. Yes, you'd get facial cuts, but you can wear scars like that with honor. In contrast, multiple concusions destroy your mind and put you in a grave.

[pbmax]

I think we should fit each player with a HANS device from NASCAR and see if that helps.

[Patler]

The use of helmets in hockey is relatively recent. It wasn't too many years ago (10 years or so) there were still a few NHL players who did not wear them as they were "grandfathered in" under the old rules. Many argue that the use of helmets changed the game dramatically, making it more violent, with players not respecting each other's or their own vulnerabilities, and actually increasing the frequency of concussions as a result.

[red]

take all pads away, or just shrink the size of them

[Freak Out]

Lets go back to the good old days when there were only 20-30 deaths a year in football.

[sharpe1027]

The only solution is to play badminton instead. Just be sure to wear protective eye gear.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I don't know if you're kidding or not, Maxie, but I think you're exactly right. The stuff I've read (and no, I'm no expert) really does indicate that improving the helmet is not the answer to the concusion problem. The players go too fast, their heads stop too quickly and violently, and the brain just gets sloshed around. No amount of padding or plastic will stop that.

So, in fact, I think Aikman is correct. Take off the face mask, put 'em in leather, and players would go back to tackling with their shoulders in stead of their facemasks.

If the NFL and fans really cared about player health, I think this is the single best thing they could do. Yes, you'd get facial cuts, but you can wear scars like that with honor. In contrast, multiple concusions destroy your mind and put you in a grave.

I was only half-kidding. I think you're right in principle, but in practice the NFL would never do what we're suggesting. The trend will probably be more and more padding and more and better helmetry. Maybe helmets will evolve into the fully-enclosed helmets ala NASCAR or motorcyclists. The facemask would be integrated into the helmet so it would be impossible to get a handhold on it.

Maybe even airbags ala automobiles are in our future. They'd pop open on particularly violent or nasty hits and the player would bounce down the field like the Michelin man!

The NFL is all about what sells, and what sells now is speed, size, flying through the air and violent collisions.

[SkinBasket]

I say add 30-60 pounds of lead weights on the pads to slow the players down. Speed kills, so kill the speed. Make it a thinking man's game.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I say add 30-60 pounds of lead weights on the pads to slow the players down. Speed kills, so kill the speed. Make it a thinking man's game.

Isn't that chess?

[Patler]

Players get concussions even when there is no serious head impact. Coup and contracoup injuries occur from the brain "sloshing around" inside the skull and impacting the skull. It is difficult to see how helmets can prevent this. Basically the deceleration of the skull has to be slowed so that it slows with the brain, rather than the brain slamming against the inside of the skull when the brain is moving faster than the skull.

Make the players smaller and slower and concussions will decrease, but never be eliminated.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Make the players smaller and slower and concussions will decrease, but never be eliminated.

A league full of DTs and FBs. Well, that at least takes care of the speed factor.