Helmets, helmets, helmets

[Jim D.]

Part of it is hair styles. Look at Stephen Jackson of the Rams - his helmet routinely flies off. He's got more hair on him than an entire team of players from the 50's.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Jim D.

Part of it is hair styles. Look at Stephen Jackson of the Rams - his helmet routinely flies off. He's got more hair on him than an entire team of players from the 50's.

Then why didn't helmets fly off like crazy in the 1960s or 1970s?

[tpaulikas]

Originally Posted by Jim D.

Part of it is hair styles. Look at Stephen Jackson of the Rams - his helmet routinely flies off. He's got more hair on him than an entire team of players from the 50's.

good point Jim...LOL

[refnrev]

I'm a football fan... not an official.... but I am in three other sports. I think they fly off more because players are much bigger, faster, and stronger, and now are hitting each other a heck of a lot harder than they used to. Just my 2 cents from the stands.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by refnrev

I'm a football fan... not an official.... but I am in three other sports. I think they fly off more because players are much bigger, faster, and stronger, and now are hitting each other a heck of a lot harder than they used to. Just my 2 cents from the stands.

I'm not sure about that one. I don't remember ever seeing helmets flying off routinely when Lawrence Taylor, Ken Norton, Jr. or Ronnie Lott would lay some of those hits.

[jaybird]

Possibly another reason is that in the past, players tried to tackle whereas now all they want is to blow somebody up in order to make the highlight reels and Sportscenter.

[parepat]

Good points. It makes sense that with the 4 point straps way up on the head it would be more difficult to remove a properly fitted helmet. THe speed that this issue has arisen leads me to believe that this is not a result of changes in the game, but rather the way that the helmets are fitted or worn.

[umpirebob71]

I know when I played, you had to stick your fingers in the earholes of the helmet and pull outward, then up to get the helmet off. There wasn't any wiggle room allowed. We had a coach whose job it was before summer practice to fit everybody's helmet properly.