Looking Forward to Changes in NFL Football Helmets

Exciting changes in NFL football helmets are taking place. According to Tony Egues, Head Equipment Manager of the Miami Dolphins, it is not unlikely for the future football helmets to be equipped with the Sideline Response System technology. The electronic readers of the Sideline Response System have the ability to measure the force a player is subjected to upon impact apart from providing vital signs during the game. The information gathered by these readers and the changes in NFL football helmets may prevent not just injuries but permanent disability and even death among the players.

During a recent meeting between team physicians and athletic trainers of the NFL and the NCAA, Mr. Egues presented what he foresees are the changes in NFL football helmets. He estimates that these changes will take place at a rapid pace, probably in the next three to five years.

For Mr. Egues the changes in NFL football helmets will be fueled largely by technology. The football helmets five years from now will be equipped with the Sideline Response System Technology which can measure body temperature and heart rate in real time. Currently, prototypes of these revolutionary helmets are being tested in the NCAA and on several high school teams.

Mr. Egues anticipates further that the changes will go beyond than merely monitoring the condition of the players in real time. For him, these changes may very well enable manufacturers to produce helmets tailored to meet the exact needs of each player.

As exciting as the direction the changes in NFL football helmets is going, Mr. Egues regards the Sideline Response System technology with a lot of caution. He admits that the technology is still at its infancy. He emphasizes that the welfare of the most precious commodity of the league, the athletes, is still the primary concern of the research. He assures the league, team owners and the players that they will incorporate the technology in the helmets only after it has been perfected. More importantly, he admits that incorporating the latest technology for the sake of technology is not necessarily beneficial to the league and the athletes. The relevance and necessity of the technology will still have to be established before it is incorporated formally into the league's helmet design.

Mr. Egues expressed his fear of becoming too dependent on the technology. While the Sideline Response System has the ability to measure the force the player sustains during the game, human intervention is still necessary. Mr. Egues emphasizes that the team physician will be the one to decide, based on the data from the helmet, if the player needs to be pulled-out of the game and not the Sideline Response System.

These hesitations notwithstanding, Mr. Egues remains optimistic about the impending changes in NFL football helmets and he is not alone. The manufacturers are conducting their own research on how to improve helmet safety. Mr. Egues welcomes these independent studies by manufacturers. He notes that more research can only lead to better helmet designs.

Article NFL Football Helmets [http://www.skyfireproducts.com/servlet/the-NFL-Football/Categories] is written by Cassaundra Flores, owner of skyfireproducts.com.

Rule Changes For the 2008 NFL Season

Well, it seems like the excitement of the Giants' amazing victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII is finally beginning to die down, and NFL fans are already getting geared up for the upcoming 2008 NFL Football Season. When a new NFL season is being developed, the current rules are always looked at and efforts to improve them take place. This NFL season is no exception and there have already been some important changes made, as well a many proposed changes that are still on the table.

One of the more amusing changes in rules to be proposed for the upcoming football season was a possible ban on hair flowing out of players' helmets. Some NFL players, such as Troy Polamalu, have some really long hair and the sports teams are worried that it is obscuring the player's name and number from the viewers' sight. If this rule had been instated it would have required the players to cut their hair, or find a way to keep it tucked into their helmets during the duration of the game. This isn't the only reason for the proposed rule change however. The Kansas City Chiefs asked that the rule to be instated because of an incident that occurred when their running back, Larry Johnson, pulled another player down by his hair and held it for some time after the two had hit the ground. This resulted in a penalty against him. The Chiefs would like to make sure that this never happens again by requiring hair to be tucked into helmets if it is over a certain length. Luckily for the players this rule change was voted down, but be on the lookout for it to pop up again in the future.

Some proposed changes have already passed when the NFL owners gathered together to discuss them in Palm Beach, Florida recently. One such change concerns the Defense receiving a microphone helmet, a privilege usually reserved only for the quarterbacks. Another new rule allows coaches the ability to defer the coin toss should they win and wish to keep the football for the second half. Also new to the game this year will be instant replays for field goals. The Incidental Facemask grab has been done away with as well. Facemask grabs must be held now in order for the player to receive a penalty.

The 2008 football season is sure to be an important and exciting one as there are some other changes that are going to take place that don't necessarily have to do with rules. For one thing, the NFL is going to be sporting a new logo. This will be the first time the league has ever updated their logo. It will feature 8 stars to represent each of the league's divisions. On a somber note, this will be the last season that the Dallas Cowboys will play at Texas Stadium; their new Stadium will be in Arlington, Texas. Another interesting change involves the retirement of Brett Favre.

Jason Forthofer is the owner of Get Football Helmets where you can shop for authentic NFL helmets and revolution authentic helmets.