Purple Jesus doesn't need an LCL

Everything looks fine here...

Why the fuck does he have to be on the Vikings? Why can't he be on a team that isn't nauseating to watch? Fuck, I'd even like to see him on the Falcons rather than the fucking Vikings. Wait, that's a lie.

This is a stupid, worthless post, but if I was the NFL Commish, these are the teams I'd get rid of ASAP:

1. Minnesota Vikings - History be damned, they've ruined it all.
2. Atlanta Falcons - Unless Vick was still playing and Arthur Blank shaved his mustache (Zygi could shave his 'stache and he'd still be a douche.)
3. Carolina Panthers/Jacksonville Jaguars - Why do these teams exist? Oh that's right, to have great players play in front of half empty stadiums.
4. Seattle Seahawks - They haven't won anything and don't really have a rich history outside of Brian Bosworth and that one tough-as-balls WR Steve Largent.
5. Arizona Cardinals - They don't care about winning
5a. Cincinnati Bengals - Paul Brown must have hated his kids because they're running his team into the shitter.
6. Baltimore Ravens - Should never have existed in the first place.
7. New Orleans Saints/Buffalo Bills - Just do us all a favor and move already so we can scrub our memories clean of all the crap your owners have heaped on the league. Don't want to spend money? Fine, go buy a CFL franchise.

Yes, I realize that I just eliminated 10 teams from the leage. But seriously, wouldn't the NFL world be much better off with the talent distributed evenly between the teams that actually give a shit/aren't painful to watch? Fuck all those teams.

Oh, since my ADD just kicked into hyperdrive, I'll end this with something about Purple Jesus. That video above? Yea, should never have happened. WHEN YOU HAVE TORN LIGAMENTS YOU FUCKING LET THEM HEAL NO MATTER WHO'S (Brad Childress') JOB IS ON THE LINE!!!!!!!!!! Then again...just another awesome day of the Zygi Wilf era.

NFL Power Stuff: Playoff Picture

I was going to write a nice little memorial thingee to Uber-badass Sean Taylor, but it just seemed pithy and out of sorts. I'll sum up my thoughts thusly: He was a badass on the field and one of the most fun players to watch. It sucks he died.

Here's how its gonna ride, beetches. This ain't no seeding shit. This is me looking at the playoff contenders and ranking them in order of who I think is the best TEAM out of the bunch. I don't care about schedules or stats or any of that shit. This is a totally biased reflection on what I've seen this year. I'm only ranking the Playoff contenders because I honestly don't feel like writing about shitty teams like the Bengals and Chiefs...wait, the Chiefs are still in it? Well fuck me sideways.

AFC:

1. New England - Really? Fuck them. Brady still isn't as good as Peyton. I'll always be more impressed with skill and execution than I will with letting Randy Moss feast.

2. Indy - Listen, I think they're better than the Pats. But until they get healthy, I can't put them up there.

3. Cleveland - Am I a homer? Unabashedly so. Do I believe this? Absolutely. Despite being 0-2 vs. the Steelers, I'm convinced the Browns are the better team. Ben Roethlisberger is a top 3 NFL QB? Really? Did I sleep through last year? I must have missed something because he is still a guy who holds on to the ball too long and gets lucky breaks (like his face on a windshield).

4. Pittsburgh - They're pretty overrated, but solid nonetheless. After last night's MNF game, I don't know how the Steelers can honestly consider that wasteland an acceptable place to play professional football.

5. San Diego - LT, Gates and Merriman. That's all it takes.

6. Jacksonville - How can I rank them below SD? Easy. David Garrard. Sure, no INT's on the year. Great. Good for him and mobile, African American QB's everywhere. Does that make him good? Not really. No Mike Peterson is going to hurt them badly and they're one more injury away from the typical end-of-season swoon that always hits these guys.

7. Tennessee - VY needs to play better. Haynesworth needs to come back. That's all.

NFC:

1. Dallas - TO + Romo = awesome. I love Big D.

1a. GB - Yes, Favre is great. I think Favre is a microcasm of America, a shining example of what we should all be. Yes, a true American grandstands and bitches at management. A true American criticizes his coworkers for wanting more money. A true American loves mixing painkillers and alcohol. Listen, Favre is a great FOOTBALL PLAYER. That's where it ends because all his contract shit? Yea, that's basically the NFL version of Roger Clemens. I love the guy as a player, but would I be upset if he retired? Probably not.

That's all the time I'm going to spend talking about the NFC. Really...they suck. Seatlle? Tampa? If you think they do a single thing in the playoffs, good for you. You must enjoy central Florida and the Pacific Northwest, because you're the only people who honestly think those teams are worth a shit. In the NFC it's GB and Dallas and that's it. They could play the NFC Champ game next week for all I care (and they pretty much are). Whatever, fuck the NFC.

This was fun. I should spend more time doing this more often again. Yea, that's right, read that sentence again. No sense. That's why I like this lil' place. I can vent and vent without any regard for grammar and context. Awesome.

Fucking Marvin Harrison, Grow a Pair...

Well, that little faggot Marvin Harrison is out. I don't mean faggot in a derogatory way to insinuate that he's gay, I mean it in a way that describes him as being a fucking asshole for getting hurt. Hurt enough that he can't fucking play in the biggest game of the year against their heated rivals when his team needs him the most. Yea fuckin' run-on sentences. FUCK YEA.

Anyways, this has made me think about why I like Marvin as a WR...it was always the connection with Peyton that made him sweet, but over the course of the last 2.5 years or so, his importance has greatly diminished. Yea, he's still getting the numbers. Yea, he's still fucking with the opposing defense. That's all great and everything. But, and I don't have any numbers what-so-ever to back this up, if you noticed, when Peyton needs someone to go to in an important situation, it's more and more common to see Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark getting the ball.

Now it could be because defenses refuse to let Marvin hurt them anymore. Could be, could not be. But let's face it, Marvin doesn't like having pressure on him and he sure as hell doesn't like contact which is great if you're an awesome route runner, like he is, but not so great if the only two routes you want to run anymore are the deep out and the go.

Listen, he's had a stellar career, and it'd be asinine for me to say that he's done, but the evidence is out there. In previous seasons you'd expect at least one huge play from him each game, and you'd usually get it (unless it was against New England in the playoffs) but it's been different the last two seasons. Think about it, when you think of Peyton's record year, the one where he threw 49 TD's, you think of all the sick throws to Marvin with Reggie Wayne and Stokley being the 2nd and 3rd reads. The last 2 years tho, all i can remember is that ridiculous catch he made against the Pats in New England, the one where he was tipping the ball and all that. Pretty sweet.

But look at the playoffs last year, he didn't get shit, it was the Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark show. Now, Marvin is still a key cog in the Colts offense right? Well, considering he's been MIA the last two games and the Colts destroyed the Jags and Panthers, I'd say the Colts are looking just fine. And lets face it again, Peyton is the key to that offense. You could trot Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline out there with Rory Nicol and Peyton would still go for at least 250 and 2 TD's. Plus, Reggie Wayne is becoming one of the better WR's in the league, which always helps to ease that pain...or mask it.

But here's the thing, Marvin is listed as Doubtful for Sunday's game. He's been out the last 2 weeks, and hasn't practiced. His knee must be FUCKED, either that or it's something else. You could tell in the playoffs that he was sulking, he wanted the ball, and wouldn't, or couldn't get it and that must have been killing him. Same story this year. I'm not saying he took himself out of action this year, but it must be hard to see the guy you've spent almost your entire career with beginning to find other guys, when before you were his no. 1 target. Yea it sounds 90210 drama-ish, but it has to have some weight.

Back in his prime, Marvin was easily one of the top 3 recievers in the league, with maybe TO and Randy Moss as peers. You could also make a case for Torry Holt, but Holt always seemed like Marvin Lite to me. I loved watching Marvin play back then. He was a master technician, his routes unparalleled and almost uncoverable. His deep speed and his ability to catch anything near him was just uncanny, almost as impressive as the fact that he wasn't a dickbag and didn't actively try and steal the spotlight. It was shocking in the age of Keyshawn and TO that a WR was a team player, someone who worked hard and treated the games as a job. I always connected with that for some reason, hard work, getting the job done, moving on...it just seemed like a novel concept.

I was always pissed when the Colts lost in the playoffs, which is odd because I'm obviously a Browns fan. I just love watching Peyton and Marvin operate on the football field, it's awesome when it's on, and plus I hate the Patriots more than Osama. But skill position players don't have long careers with precious few notable exceptions. Marvin NEVER liked contact, and frankly, I don't blame him. He is very small and very thin, especially to try and go over the middle against some juiced up LB who has 60 lbs. on him.

Sure, maybe he isn't the toughest guy on the field, but he was arguably the best WR in the game for a 8 year stretch. His numbers rival Jerry Rice's. Just think about that. He is on pace to actually reach some of Jerry Rice's stastical achievements, something that was considered impossible no more than 10 years ago. Yet Marvin did it with nary a NFL Countdown segment revealing how he needs, "sexy" in his "game." To think that Marvin was almost unstoppable and to see him now, not even able to dress for the biggest game of the year, it kinda sours my opinion on him.

Am I looking to far into this? Probably. Actually most definately. I should be able to take the man's word that he is truly hurt. I should be able to accept that he probably has a really fucked up knee right now. But, for some stupid reason, I don't see it that way. I see it as a continuation of a souring mood, a brooding, unhappy player who isn't ready to realize that his role is diminished. Someone who doesn't feel that drive to keep going through pain as so many other NFL players do. He's old, he's been through a lot, he's taken a lot of hits and ran a shit ton of yards, it's the natural regression that people go through when they age. Yet, Marvin always seemed Rice-ian in the fact that he'd keep going because his polished technique was such an asset that it could trump the erosion of natural ability. It's hard to come to grips with rooting for a declining player, and it makes you question why you rooted for a player on another team to begin with. But Marvin was always that guy who was fun to root for for me. I loved the quiet ass kicking that he delivered every Sunday, but I'm beginning to think that this is the end of the road.

PATS-COLTS RE-EVALUATION: As much as I was just pining over the loss of Marvin, I don't think it's going to make much of a difference in the game, which is odd to say. It makes me a little less confident in my pick, but I'm sticking with it.

Pats-Colts: Yea, yea, yea...

Honestly, if you're anything like me, which you should be, you're probably sick to death of all the Pats-Colts nonsense that has prevailed over all things sports for the last week. Yea, it's overkill much like eating to much candy but the fact remains that it is still the two best teams in the NFL going head to head with storylines and bullshit out the ass.

Well, I decided to take a gander at each team and see how they stack up. This is pretty informal and I'm not going to bore you with stats, rather, I'm going to, very subjectively may I add, analyze each facet against the other team's and see if I can convince myself that the Colts won't win...here we go.

Quarterback: This is why the matchup is what it is. The debate was always, "Manning puts up the numbers, but Brady wins the rings." The way I see these two, their roles have switched. I look at Peyton and I see a QB who is in total control of his offense. It's not about the numbers anymore, or even any facet of the passing game that makes him dangerous, it's that he can see your defense and will fuck you up. Indy's offense is unstoppable, and Peyton is the chief reason why.

On the other hand you have Tom Brady. He has been putting up historic numbers...blah blah blah, everyone has heard this shit all day long. You know what? Hit the fucker. There I said it, was that too bad? Put Tom Brady and Randy Moss on their ass and see how they like it. I'm sick of watching these teams drop into stupid coverages that gets them away from what they do best and just give Brady days and days to find Randy. Well, that type of defense is exactly what the Colts do, the Pats aren't going to have an easy time with the Tampa 2 that Dungy is famous for. More on that later. Let's see how easy it is to throw bombs when you don't see any man coverage and you have Mathis and Freeney on your ass. Edge: Colts.

Running Backs: Addai vs. Koolaid. Come on, this is a no-brainer. Koolaid has been hurt for a large chunk of the year, so has Addai, but when Addai is on the field, the Colts actually use him. Addai is the PERFECT Colts RB. He is super shifty, has pretty good size, blazing speed and is smart enough to adapt to Peyton's audibles and go out as a reciever. Koolaid could be an 1,800 yard rusher, if, you know, the Patriots ran the ball at the end of games instead of continuing to go deep just to run up the score...Edge: Colts.

Wide Recievers/Tight Ends: Wow. Are you kidding me? Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Marvin Harrison, Donte Stallworth, Dallas Clark, Ben Watson...what a group. I could spend days talking about this shit, but I'll spare you. As great as the Colts' pass catchers have been, they aren't Randy Moss. Edge: Patriots.

Offensive Line: Both units fly under the radar with a few notable names, Jeff Saturday and Matt Light are the biggest ones, yet operate on a high level. Brady, literally, hasn't been breathed on yet being highly impressive in pass blocking. However, the Colts are a different animal all together. They adapt and flow with Peyton (do you see what I'm getting at? The entire Colts offense is one unit, rather than a group of parts like the Pats) and are absolutely BRUTAL run blocking. People know by now, but this line is so far removed from being the finesse type that was maligned in 2003-4, just look at last years' playoff run for evidence. In the AFC Championship game, the Colts line destroyed the Pats, and on that last run, Jeff Saturday must have driven human dam plug, Vince Wilfork, halfway through the back of the endzone. Don't even mention that 12 play, 11 run, 11 minute drive against the Ravens, that'll just further shore up my point. Edge: Colts.

Defensive Line: Again, the stars here are ridiculous. It's hard to compare a 3 man front with a 4 man front, especially when you consider the difference in philosophies, but it's not nearly as close as you'd expect. As great as Freeney and Robert Mathis are, and as well as the replacement DT's have been for the Colts, the Pats' D-Line is in another stratosphere. Seymour, Wilfork and Warren are beyond peer. The whole defensive unit for the Patriots all starts up front with these guys, and there's a reason it's one of the best units in the league. There isn't a more physically dominating 3-man front, I'd almost wager to say in NFL history. That could be a stretch, but these guys are that good. Watching the two Pats' playoff games last year exhibits the point with brutal effiency. They completely tore apart the Jets, which is easy enough to do, but against the Chargers, it was painful. When you need all 5 blockers to take care of 3 guys, there are going to be opportunities to make plays for the linebackers and safeties, and you don't have to be concerned with rushing additional guys to collapse a pocket either. Edge: Patriots

Linebackers and Secondary: This is a hard thing to evaluate. Yea, the Patriots have superior guys all throughout, but that doesn't make them better. Sure Vrabel (douche), Adalius, Colvin...they're great so are Asante Samuel and Rodney Harrison, and Ellis Hobbs is more than capable. However, none of those guys are Bob Sanders. And none of those guys play in the Tampa 2 scheme.

The Tampa 2 isn't about stud personnel, rather, it's about scheme and covering the field. The corners are not matching up with Randy Moss and Stallworth one-on-one instead, reamaining disciplined and covering their area of the field. The Colts corners aren't the fastest guys in the world, but they cover space quickly and don't get out of position, and when someone does come in their area, there are usually multiple guys there waiting to make the tackle, rather than leaving space for the offensive player to make a move.

I just said the Tampa 2 isn't about personnel, but there is one player on the Colts that trumps that sentiment, Bob Sanders. He gets to the ball quick and doesn't miss tackles and that great reaction time allows him to make plays on passes. For all intents and purposes, he is the enforcer over the middle, evidenced by his great tackle of MJD on Monday Night Football in Week 7. The fact that he is able and willing to kick ass is what moves the Colts. Without him, they are a much different defense, as has been chronicled throughout last year.

The Tampa 2 can be picked apart. There are holes where a smart WR can sit down and get chunks of yards and it is somewhat vulnerable to the running game. However, this is where the personnel comes in. The Colts' D-Line, while not the world-beaters the Patriots line are, are blindlingly quick and can get to the QB in a hurry. Mathis and Freeney are too good completely stop and the Pats' O-Line is going to have its hands full trying to give Brady time to look through his progressions, instead forcing him to make a hurried throw where the Colts' quick defenders can make a play on the ball. The DT's are quick and active and can penetrate through the middle, leaving a less than mobile QB like Brady, a practical sitting duck for the bookends to drag down. This is what gives the Colts the advantage over the Pats. The Tampa 2 scheme won't allow the Colts to get burnt deep, will limit the underneath shit, and put pressure on the pocket. That's 3 things the Patriots haven't seen this year. Yea, they've seen Cover 2 schemes before, but not by a team as viciously built for it like the Colts. Edge: Colts.

Special Teams: I'm giving the advantage to the Colts because of Vinatieri. The Pats aren't far behind though. Edge: Colts.

Coaching: Belichick is a genius, but an asshole. Dungy is a genius and a nice guy. It's a tossup, but based on what I've seen so far this year, I have to give the nod to that asshole in the sweatshirt. Edge: Patriots.

Prediction: 38-34 Colts

Perfect Pats...

You know what I'm getting real sick of? All this talk about the Patriots going undefeated. Why does this matter? Sure its a great accomplishment, but does that mean that the Patriots season is a loss if they lose one game? NO. I mean I wish them all the success they can handle, but I just can't seem to grasp the reasoning as to why this is important.

I coach basketball. It's volunteer grade school basketball, but none the less it still counts. The school where I coach has a great talent pool to work with, but I've never challenged anyone to go "perfect". I don't really see the point. I want my players to lose at least one game over the course of the season just so they know how it feels. Once they know the feeling of defeat, they won't want to experience that again. Am I the only one who sees value in losing one game? I have never purposely lost a game, but it just seems so worthless to dwell on perfection. I love sports and am an extremely competitive person, but lets not go overboard on this one.

There is no question in my mind that the Patriots are the "best" team in football, bar none. But to say that there isn't anyone in the league who's capable of beating them is untrue. How does that saying go? Any given Sunday? Let's not take away from what they're doing by focusing on what they could do. That just seems to be happening way too much. My homepage on every computer I own is espn.com, and everyday I turn there, there is an article posted about how they could "possibly" go undefeated. Guys, anyone could go undefeated. It just seems like a worthless argument to make.

Let's say they do go undefeated and lose in the first round of the playoffs to an inferior team. Does that still mean they are one of the best teams ever to grace the gridiron? Say they lose to the Browns this weekend then win the rest of their games and then go on to win the SB. Then we have to endure hours of wasted airtime on ESPN, and every other sports talk show in America, saying how they almost did it. It seems to me that the media is taking away from the sport by focusing on this WAY too much. Let's be honest, Dallas is playing just as good of football as the Pats are against similar competition. Let's just start giving credit to the teams on a week to week basis. The only focus for anyone, media included, should be your teams next opponent, PERIOD. You can make your predictions for playoffs, champions, and wins/losses, whatever you want, but it's the athletes that go out and play and the coaches who go out and coach. Whatever happens, happens, and then you can give us your worthless criticism after it Sean Salisbury.

And for the record no team will go undefeated, in any professional sport. And lets be honest here, there is so much more that you can talk about in the NFL than that drivel. I mean come on, give some credit to those teams who are doing things that no one thought they would. Take for example: Browns 2-2 after that hard opening schedule, Green Bay going 4-0 without the presence of any running game, Tampa Bay's surprising start at 3-1, and lets not forget about what Vince Young is still doing down in Tennessee.

I'm just sick of worthless arguing for sake of arguing, it's a waste of good radio/tv/internet space. Thats all I have to say. Oh and hey LT, crying in the post game press conference will tarnish your so far great career and get a decent helmet.

Thursday Night, It's Always 420 In Here, NFL Picks of the Week

Now, with spreads!!!!

Oakland (+5) vs. Miami: I like Oakland because of Culpepper and Lamont. Miami is the new Oakland. Oakland is the new Tennessee.

Houston (-3) vs. Atlanta: Atlanta is by far and away the worst team in the league. They'll win 2 or 3 games this year no more.

Chicago vs. Detroit (+3): Both Chicago's starting CB's are hurt at the worst time. Roy and Megatron come rolling into town along with Miracle Kitna. Brian Griese is starting for Chicago which means he'll throw 3 int's subtly without the Cannon's flair. The Bears look like a 5-11 team, Benson can't run, the line can't block, the defense is on the field 45 minutes a game (as good as the Bears D is, they still can't do this). Bad news Bears. BRING ON KYLE ORTON!!!!

Green Bay (-1) vs. Minnesota: For some reason I just didn't feel safe picking GB. They're better defensively (barely) and offensively (significantly) than Minnesota but they just don't seem for real yet. They don't have a running game and Favre blows in domes. But the spread is so low and I feel so underwhelmed by Minny's offense that I just can't pick them.

St. Louis vs. Dallas (-11): This is not a good week to play the Cowboys. If Predator and Bulger were healthy, I'd take St. Louis every time, but they aren't so how 'bout them Cowboys?

NYJ (-2.5) vs. Buffalo: Who cares?

TB (+2.5) vs. Carolina: Carolina is uninspiring especially with David Carr at QB. Even more convinced if Delhomme is out. Plus, TB is this year's Team That Surprises Everyone only to Lose in the First Round by 24.

Seattle (-1) vs. SF: No Gore or VD.

Pittsburgh (-5) vs. Arizona: Fuck the Steelers.

KC vs. SD (-12): You can just smell how pissed off LT is. KC will get torn apart. It will not be pretty.

Denver vs. Indy (-9.5): Old school Peyton ass-whoopin'. Expect at least 300 yards, at least 4 TD's. Champ and Dre can't do squadoosh against Peyton. I heart Peyton.

Philly (-3) vs. NYG: Giants are just too banged up and are facing McNabb at the worst time. Let's have a moment of silence for the plight of the white reciever.

NE (-6) vs. Cincy: You are an idiot if you do not take the Patriots every chance you get. They are a gift.

Baltimore vs. Cleveland (+4.5): Laugh if you must...

Last Week: 8-8

Fantasy STUD of the Week: Roy Williams. Going up against a decimated Bears secondary. Just a case of a terrible matchup coming at the worst time for the Bears. Plus he's really cheap and loves the Transformers. Nothing is funnier than a pro athlete making $1.5 million (that's it? surprising...) being a fuckin' tightwad. Plus, he's a grown ass man as evidenced below.



(HT Orton pic: Deadspin)

Of A Revolution...

Let’s start with the basic technological advances in the original Riddell Revolution helmet. There is a true curved poly-carbonate plastic shell, with four inflation points for inflatable bladder pads inside the helmet itself. There is a piece that wraps around the entire head called the Back, Neck, and Side liner, a crown liner is the pad that sits on the actual head itself, and the jaw pads were replaced with Z-pads. Now the inflation feature for the helmet does not necessarily increase the amount of protection on a players head, it is used more for custom fitting purposes. However, you gots ta think that that air adds some extra protection in one way or another.

Moving on… the helmets true curved shell allows the helmet to deflect any direct impact on the helmet itself. The facemask is fully integrated into the helmet, with rubber grommets that serve as shock absorbers and the mask is integrated to the mandible jaw region of the face. It is that region of the head where 70% of concussions occur, usually resulting from the player’s helmet moving from the optimal position on a player’s head (about one inch above the eyebrows).

Now since the facemask is integrated into the shell of the helmet, it now serves as a major factor in the shock absorption process for the helmet which allows any energy that the true curved shell did not absorb, to be absorbed by the facemask. If there is still any energy that the helmet was not able to deflect and that the facemask was unable to absorb, the rubber grommets will absorb that energy. Sounds good so far right?

Ok, time to talk inside of the helmet a little more. Inside the helmet we already mentioned the 4 inflation points on an Adult Revolution helmet (there are 3 on a youth, the crown liner is not inflatable, but can upgrade to that feature). On the back of everyone’s head there is this little sharp bump. That bump is called the occipital lobe. Now, there is a place in the back of the Revolution helmet cut into the back, neck, and side liner that allows the helmet to lock it into its proper position on the head. This is done by the mid/high hookup on the chin strap. The chin strap locks the helmet in place with the occipital lobe. Also, pretty good huh?

That sounds like a pretty decent helmet to me. Actually, it sounds like a no-brainer to me. All youth football teams should implement rules into their bylaws saying that all players must wear concussion reduction helmets. There is the Riddell Revolution, the Schutt DNA (talk about a piece of Schutt…), and the Champ Pro (no one wears this, well someone has to wear it or they’d go out of business, but no one worthy of noting). Personally, I feel that the only helmet worthy of being called a concussion reducing helmet is the Riddell Revolution.

It really pisses me off that youth organizations try to run these teams by getting them cheap, crappy helmets, based only on one factor: price. Take organization A for example. They are a startup youth football team, in the Pop-Warner Football League. Now, they are not required by the league to purchase any type of equipment, but those who are financing the team say that each player is required to wear some type of concussion reducing helmet. Then let’s take organization B for another example. They are a startup youth football team in the CYO football league. They are part of a local school and they just purchase whatever is the most cost effective purchasing strategy. Which team will be better off?

The teams wear basically the exact same stuff. However, did organization B actually save money? No. Look at it this way: You can get a standard Adams helmet for about $75/helmet. Correction, you get an Adams helmet shell for $75. Did organization A waste money on “better” equipment? No. Look at it this way: You can get a fully upgraded Youth Revolution helmet for $105. What is more important the wellness of your son’s head, or saving $30 so you are under budget? This is a stupid. PERIOD. Ok I’ll take it one step further for you. Take that $30 that you’d “save” by purchasing more economical football equipment. $30 times 25 players is $750 that you could save, sounds great huh? Well how hard is it for a group of 25 players to have a car wash, a bakes sale, or a simple fund raiser? Not very hard.

League Presidents and Athletic Directors, consider your athlete’s futures. Hell the parents would probably give you the extra $30 themselves just to put their son in a better piece of equipment. The National Federation of State High School Associations have revised their policies relating to this, so why don’t you do it too? Let’s admit it, you basically do whatever they do, so why not just setup and do it before someone makes you do it. Show you care, you teach the kids how to play, so let them keep playing.

I just want to conclude this by mentioning some research findings from the University of Pittsburgh. The Riddell Revolution is the only helmet tested to reduce the likelihood of a football player (of any age) receiving a concussion. If you have never had a concussion in your life before, the Revolution will reduce the likelihood of you getting one while playing football by 41%. Also, if you have already received a concussion, no matter if it came from playing football or doing whatever, the Revolution will reduce the risk of you receiving another concussion from playing football by 31%. Those are some pretty tough facts to dispute; so I challenge you League Presidents and Athletic Directors, put your players in equipment that you would feel safe wearing to play football, not what is cost effective.