Woodman
04-26-2024, 09:55 AM
NFL gives players option to wear Guardian Caps during games - NBC Sports (https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-gives-players-option-to-wear-guardian-caps-during-games)
During a recent webinar (https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/player-care/nfl-presents-reducing-head-impacts), NFL Chief Administrative Officer Dawn Aponte nonchalantly mentioned a new “option” to wear the Guardian Cap during a game, “if he so chooses.” (The comment appears at 37:45.)
“So we might actually see a Guardian Cap on a player in a game this year,” NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills said in response. “That’s possible. Great. Big change coming up.” (38:08.)
It’s a massive change. It’s an about-face by 345 Park Avenue. Last year, the league was clear on this: “A player would be prohibited (https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/if-a-player-wanted-to-wear-a-guardian-cap-during-a-game-the-league-would-prohibit-it) from wearing a Guardian Cap during a game.”
The league possibly is betting on the vast majority of players choosing not to opt for a path that will make them stand out. Regardless, the league has (wisely) realized that it’s impossible to reconcile a desire to maximize player health and safety with a refusal to let players choose to wear an extra piece of safety equipment — especially since it apparently works.
During a recent webinar (https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/player-care/nfl-presents-reducing-head-impacts), NFL Chief Administrative Officer Dawn Aponte nonchalantly mentioned a new “option” to wear the Guardian Cap during a game, “if he so chooses.” (The comment appears at 37:45.)
“So we might actually see a Guardian Cap on a player in a game this year,” NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills said in response. “That’s possible. Great. Big change coming up.” (38:08.)
It’s a massive change. It’s an about-face by 345 Park Avenue. Last year, the league was clear on this: “A player would be prohibited (https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/if-a-player-wanted-to-wear-a-guardian-cap-during-a-game-the-league-would-prohibit-it) from wearing a Guardian Cap during a game.”
The league possibly is betting on the vast majority of players choosing not to opt for a path that will make them stand out. Regardless, the league has (wisely) realized that it’s impossible to reconcile a desire to maximize player health and safety with a refusal to let players choose to wear an extra piece of safety equipment — especially since it apparently works.