The Importance Of NFL Safety

Due to the lack of safety protection from the NFL, all players, former players of the NFL and critics have been heavily laying the wood down on the NFL, stating that the players are not safe, and not being protected while playing the game of football. But when the year of 2010 hit that has all changed, the NFL took charge and showed the world that the sport isn't just for entertainment, and that the sport of football is about the safety of the players. Although, the NFL has been scrutinized for the frequency of player concussions but, the regulations, safety rules, and superior helmet technology has significantly reduced the danger.
Furthermore, the NFL has made several rule changes since the year of 2010, and the data that has been grasped …show more content…
The NFL commissioner and team owners gather together to decide on what is best for the safety of their players. Such as on Aug 6 of 2010 when the NFL refs vowed to take more responsibility in protecting and keeping the players safe on the field (“New NFL rules”). NFL has also passed a new rule in 2010 that prohibits to hit an opponent in mid air that is attempting to field (Catch) a ball in mid air, this rule is very important for receivers or players who go onto the field for punt return because when going out to field the ball that has been punted you have to worry about the ball being in the air and worry about people coming at you to tackle you.This can be very worrisome and gruesome if a player gets hit while trying to catch the ball. Since this rule is being implemented the players will know they are safe in the back of their mind when fielding the ball (“Leagues official”). Rules in 2010 have been made to terminate helmet hits and from an offensive player to deliver a blindside block. NFL owners also approved a rule that penalizes (penalty) or a possible fine for the player hitting opponents with the crown of their helmets or with their helmets in general (“Leagues official”). There has also been cases of players with symptoms of a concussion and still plays, that will not occur anymore since the NFL has applied a more “stringent return-to-play” …show more content…
Finding the perfect helmet to fit a player and keep the player safe is tremendously hard since you have to find the right size that fits the player’s head. The NFL even polled selected franchises and developed the results that about “one third” of players were wearing helmets that are in the lowest performing group (Reyes). Now, since the players are wearing “lowest performing” helmets, of course there will be more concussions then. But in 2013, NFL, GE and Under Armour introduced the “Head Challenge in 2013 as part of the NFL and GE’s broader head health initiative” (Roberts). NFL, GE and Under Armour all invested about “20 million” for promising head injury solutions (Roberts). Xenith a rising company produces helmets that have venting air bladders that compress to however severe the impact is (Polnerow). This product for helmets can be very game changing for players. Nothing can prevent a concussion in sports but a product that compresses on how severe the impact is can continue to make the NFL a safer organization and players not being afraid to put that helmet on and go out onto that field and trying to catch the ball! A different company called Riddell created a helmet that utilizes “vinyl nitrile foam” with “high density” that has a larger shell for the helmet and increased amount of padding inside the helmet to