Football: Should we return to leather helmets?

[Cockholio]

I know some will laugh and not even open this thread, but with all the concussion stuff, brain damage issues, etc, will the invention of the plastic shell, called the football helmet, eventually be the undoing of the sport so many love? Seriously, the head became a weapon as soon as the guys learned they could turn themselves into a human missile while wearing the new headgear. Would going back to leather helmets and no facemask's be the answer to preserving the game? Uncanny thought, I know. But after thinking about it for a while.... No helmet, the game will go back to being played the way it was originally meant to be played. Maybe ditching modern headgear really is the answer to what will certainly be the issue that lawyers will eventually win out with and cripple the sport in its current state of equipment usage. It's only a matter of time before the game as we know it is gone. The lawyers will always win. Can a retreat to Leather helmets save the game?

[FloydTheBarber]

It's a modest proposal in the Swift sense of the phrase.

Those who are 'advocating' a return to leather helmets are clueless about the history of football. Theodore Roosevelt was VERY close to banning the sport because of the number of deaths that were occurring.

[Mt. Lattimore]

Leather helmets will not save the game.

Coaches who teach how the game should be properly played will save the game.

With that said, I think football popularity has peeked.

[bryarx]

I do think in the future, helmets will have padding on both the inside and the outside.

Helmets were introduced to reduce shock to the head. They are now being asked to find a way to reduce secondary momentum within the helmet (the brain hitting the skull). The only way a helmet can have any effect on that is to substantially reduce the overall impact - and I think padding on the outside will be the next step.

[FanofCarolina1]

Hmmm...how many concussions do Rugby players get?

[catdaddy66]

Does anyone remember the shells they used to place over the regular helmet, a la Don Beebe?? I thought that was a great concept but it may not have done what the makers had hoped it would.

[Acockolypse Now]

Originally Posted by FanofCarolina1

Hmmm...how many concussions do Rugby players get?

A lot.

[usc90grad]

Gerald Ford played in a leather helmet...so 'nuff said.

[Spur's Addiction]

IN college I had an economics professor who said that putting airbags in cars was a mistake. They should but a big spike on all steering wheels to cut down on the accidents.

Same type of thing.

[ConwayGamecock]

Originally Posted by catdaddy66

Does anyone remember the shells they used to place over the regular helmet, a la Don Beebe?? I thought that was a great concept but it may not have done what the makers had hoped it would.

You mean these:

[me4USC]

Originally Posted by Spur's Addiction

IN college I had an economics professor who said that putting airbags in cars was a mistake. They should but a big spike on all steering wheels to cut down on the accidents.

Same type of thing.

[b381l]

I've talked to a number of football people that say we should take away face masks (not going back to leather helmets) and that alone will get rid of a number of concussions. The method of tackling will change and go back to what is used to be by going low instead of head hunting with the helmet. Take away the face mask and kids will stop leading with their head.

[5lbYardcock]

Refractory wired helmets with gel linings will be the future of head protection.

[Carolina4Life]

Is this a joke? Seriously, what you said makes zero sense.

[robgusc76]

Originally Posted by Mt. Lattimore

Leather helmets will not save the game.

Coaches who teach how the game should be properly played will save the game.

With that said, I think football popularity has peeked.

Right there!

[usc90grad]

How about enforcing the existing drug policy, especially HGH? The NFL has a good policy but the Player's Union won't let them fully enforce it.

[COCKYTALKIN]

I agree that the game has probably peaked and if these studies continue to come out negative the game will deteriorate. The top notch athletes can generally pick the sport of their chosing and they would be misguided to not turn their focus on Basketball or Baseball.

They have made great strides in protecting the QB and WR's. However, RB's have been left out in the cold and I really don't see how they can protect them. The CFL some variations that would seem to lean toward less violent contact. Having only 3 downs and a larger field makes it more advantageous to throw rather than ground and pound. A 3 yard hammer up the middle does almost nothing.

Part of me would be disappointed to see drastic changes like moving to 3 downs, but I would rather see that than the sport continue to wreck the health of the players. It would certainly take some getting used to.

[803scdantes]

Isn't this kind of like saying we should do away with seatbelts and airbags in cars so people drive safer?

[2000grad]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...-42-4-495-t01/

Take away the weapons, such as a helmet, and I promise you that guys will stop leading with their head

[trapper82]

You need look no further than the tackle on Marcus Lattimore that dislocated his knee to see how bad tackling has become. The guy flew in, back first, at the knees, and the same is largely true for the way they tackle up top these days.

I have honestly wondered if something doesn't change, will we have to resort to flag football. Moreso than the political pressure is the costs associated with all these lawsuits.