Leather Helmets: The answer for Roger Goodell?

  Concussions.  They seem to be a plague these days for NFL quarterbacks.  But perhaps the real "headache" comes for the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell.  With the NFL now facing a lawsuit from more than 3000 players for not producing the "facts" about concussions to the players, the Commissioner has found himself in a tough predicament.  Coming up with ways to make the game safer has been unpopular with players and the public.  Some of the things to come up with so far: Strict fines and suspensions for "illegal hits" (Launching, and helmet-to-helmet contact).  They have moved the kick off up 5 yards, meant to decrease the amount of returns (Successful).  And the latest move is to take out the Kickoff all together.  Which is a wildly unpopular idea in the eyes of this writer.

  

  In a recent interview on "The Dan Patrick Show", Hines Ward indicated that if we took away helmets, we would eliminate the major injuries to the head.

 “If you want to prevent concussions, take the helmet off.  Play old-school football with the leather helmets, no facemask.  When you put a helmet on you’re going to use it as a weapon, just like you use shoulder pads as a weapon.” - Hines Ward

  This brings up an interesting argument.  If a player doesn't have a helmet on, he won't lead with his head because of the injury that may be caused to himself.  Take rugby for example.  Rugby which although is not as popular here in The States as it is in other areas of the world.  Rugby may be one of the most vicious and physical sports around, however there is far less injury.  This is attributed to the fact that they do not where "protective equipment".  

  The next argument: 

  Let's say we take the helmets away from the NFL, and we go back to the leather caps.  We are going to see far less big hits, and it will really tone the game down.  So I ask: Will you watch?, or will you have been accustomed to seeing the game how it's currently played, and not want to waste your time with a "watered down" version of today's American Football.  I look at it another way as well.  If you take away the helmets, you are also going to see far less running up the middle.  So those hard-nose 3rd & goal plays are now a new animal.  You'll see more running on the outside, more players in space making big plays.  That might be exciting to watch.

  This is something that has been debated in the past, but I think should be taken more seriously.  Maybe this isn't the ideal solution, but something should be done.  Right now football is evolving, whether we like it or not.  Every year we have new rules and changes.  Let's make a change that will end the debate, and move on.  I don't have an answer for this, merely a topic that I think should be discussed by people who have more at stake than deciding between watching the "PrimeTime Game" and HBO on Sunday night.

Thanks for reading.