[NU Sports] Brain Damage and Football

[Mike Nolan]

> During the Buffalo Bills run in the 1990s one of their linebackers wore a 
> special helmet. I thought it was Darryl Talley but I couldn't find proof after 
> 45 seconds of internet research. As I recall, the helmet had about a half inch 
> of foam outside the hard plastic shell that was meant to reduce concussions. 
> I've often wondered why all players don't have helmets like that. It may not fix 
> the problem, but I don't see how it could hurt.

There's some anecdotal evidence which suggests that the better they
make helmets, the more players feel they can deliver or receive blows to
the head.  When added to the fact that NFL players are much bigger, faster
and stronger than they were even 25 years ago, and that probably explains
why we see a lot more head and spine injuries than we used to.

I knew a former Nebraska offensive lineman who also played several years 
in the NFL, he actively discouraged his kids from playing football 
beyond the high school level because, as he puts it, he knows all too
well what damage he did to his own body.
--
Mike Nolan