INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts tight finish Kylen Granson wore a Guardian Cap over his helmet in the course of the preseason and plans to proceed doing so within the common season to additional defend his mind from long-term harm.
“At one level folks thought seatbelts had been f—ing silly,” Granson advised The Athletic on Thursday. “Why wouldn’t I (put on it)? Simply because it seems to be foolish? I really feel like well being and security is extra necessary than aesthetics.”
After Granson’s feedback went viral, the four-year professional defined his place even additional in an Instagram video Friday. Granson and lots of of different NFL gamers started sporting Guardian Caps, basically soft-shell pads hooked up to their helmets, when the NFL mandated sure place teams put on them in apply forward of the 2022 season.
He’s favored the outcomes up to now, and now that the league will enable gamers to put on them in video games, Granson believes it’s a “no-brainer” for him to additional defend his mind.
“There’s no quantity of aesthetic that would outweigh what a TBI (traumatic mind damage) might do to you,” Granson stated by way of Instagram. “And one of many extra unknown issues is that not solely is it the large hits that you need to fear about, it’s the fruits of a bunch of little hits.”
He in contrast somebody’s mind to Jell-O, explaining each time a soccer participant takes a success and their mind shakes like Jell-O, it could not look like a lot within the second but it surely might have a dire and even lethal impact down the road. Granson additionally famous lots of of those little mind shakes can happen from OTAs and coaching camp within the offseason, a three-game preseason, a 17-game common season and much more video games if a workforce reaches the playoffs.
Granson, 26, suffered a concussion in a Week 6 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars final yr and was sidelined for the subsequent two video games.
Nonetheless, Granson stated he would nonetheless put on a Guardian Cap even when he hadn’t sustained a concussion. The tragic tales of Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Junior Seau and former New England Patriots tight finish and convicted assassin Aaron Hernandez, who each died by suicide and had been later recognized with CTE, function sobering reminders for Granson.
“I need to stay eternally,” Granson advised The Athletic, partly joking. “I don’t need anybody to dig me up after I’m gone and examine my mind.”
Granson elaborated much more on Instagram, saying he desires to have the ability to keep in mind the primary dance at his forthcoming marriage ceremony “30 years from now” and his future youngster’s first steps. However apart from his personal needs, he believes it’s his accountability to set an instance for the thousands and thousands of kids who look as much as NFL gamers.
“I need to encourage children to suppose that well being and security can be cool,” Granson stated on Instagram. “You are able to do cool issues out on the soccer area and nonetheless put on a Guardian Cap. I would like my (future) kids to put on helmets after they experience a motorbike. … As a result of there’s no quantity of cool that may be value strolling right into a hospital room and your youngster’s in a vegetative state as a result of they weren’t sporting a helmet. As a result of they didn’t need to look dumb.”
Since 2022, the NFL reviews Guardian Caps have resulted in a 50 p.c lower in concussions amongst gamers who’ve worn them in apply.
NFL government vp Jeff Miller advised ESPN earlier this yr along with Guardian Caps, “there are new helmets this yr that present as a lot — if no more — safety than a distinct helmet mannequin paired with a Guardian Cap.”
Finally, it’s nonetheless the participant’s selection, and it actually makes for a scorching matter in NFL locker rooms. Some Colts gamers, who’re supportive of Granson sporting a Guardian Cap, are vehemently towards sporting one themselves due to the way it seems to be. Granson is considered one of a minimum of two Indianapolis gamers who will don the added head gear regardless, as security Rodney Thomas II advised The Athletic he plans to put on a Guardian Cap in the course of the common season, too.
Colts operating again Jonathan Taylor is arguably probably the most distinguished NFL participant to put on a Guardian Cap in the course of the preseason, although he was noncommittal about sporting it within the common season.
Granson stated by way of Instagram he loves soccer with all of his coronary heart, but it surely’s not value placing his life or his household’s life in danger as a result of he’s afraid of being ridiculed or perceived as tender.
“It’s larger than me. It’s larger than simply wanting cool,” Granson stated. “And if I can do the identical issues on the sector, and be protected on the similar time, why would I not need that? As a fan, why would you not need that? A few of your finest gamers might play for longer and defend their well being.”
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(Photograph: Jeff Moreland / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
