Alec Grawe                                                  Journal 2


Summarize: Searching new helmet techonolgy the article I found explains how the new helmets that are used in football are protecting players more efficiently than before. It mentions all the new features that have been added by the makers of the helmets from grade school football to the professional level. It mentions how concussion can not be stopped but they certainly can be reduced. Riddell is the most trusted brand by the NFL and is the company that is putting all these changes into play. The most noticeable feature of the new helmet is the cutout in the front called a cantilever. This feature allows it to flex more while maintaining overall stiffness. It is equipped with thicker padding, a new and improved face mask, and also a sensor network that can alert the sideline when a big impact has been taken on the helmet. The cost of one of these helmets is about $150 per helmet. The chinstrap has been somewhat the same for the last 70 years and they have finally improved it. The chin strap has a tug and pull system that makes it almost impossible to forget to strap your helmet.

Synthesize: This source is more in depth than my last source. It focuses on the details of what the NFL has done so far. There is still the  question of if they can do more and why haven't they tried to do this a long time ago. My last source had to do with the question of if previous NFL players are prone to head trauma earlier in life. The new helmets that we have now could have even reduced the concussions 10-15 years ago. This new article answers the question of what they are going to do. The NFL has created a helmet that protects the players more but there is still the concern for if hits to the head still affect illness's later on after players career.

Thinking: This article has made me consider that fact that the NFL could have done this awhile ago. Maybe the players suing the NFL are doing it for a good reason. It shows me how many different things the company Riddell has done in the advancement of the helmet. They have added some incredible ways to prevent concussions in football and even other sports. The helmets have some memory foam in them and is hard to see all the padding that is protecting your head. An alternative argument would be that the helmets are as good as they can get and its the rules or the players fault for so many concussions and the trauma after playing football. These helmets have even been put into use in college and some high schools. I think that the most interesting thing about the new helmets are the quick release face masks. When a player is down the face mask can come off with the push of a button so they don't have to take the full helmet off and can make things easier on the trainer. This article really helped me gain more knowledge about what they have done so far with the helmet and how they have tried to improve concussions and maybe even head trauma of previous players.

Question: Now that I have learned about what the players are wearing and how the NFL has improved the helmets , the question is are they working? My next research will be on how doctors examine previous NFL players and can tell if it is due to the lack of support in helmets. Do sideline trainers send players back into games playing with concussions? How much more of a risk do they have of getting seriously injured? I need to find statistics about concussions in the NFl. Is there a better way to make helmets? Should the rules be changed about hits on the head?