What Were They Thinking

Here are some shots of the new throw-back uniforms for the Washington Redskins.

I have to admit, that some of the comments on various blogs and Facebook are fairly accurate making us look like the 49ers or Florida or some other College-rate team. But I really don’t mind the uniforms all that much.

Personally I like the 1960’s or the 1970 versions better simply because this is what I remember as a kid.

But, what I have an issue with is,the Helmet.

I understand it is meant to be a nostalgic “leather” look and conceptually this is fine with me. I can even understand that it is somewhat like the original Boston Braves style before they became the Washington Redskins.

And I’m OK with this too.

However, with all the recent lawsuits regarding concussions by former players, is selecting a skimpy leather style helmet the best idea for a particularly image conscious NFL?  In fact, it was just announced today that Hall of Fame and former Washington Redskins WR Art Monk is leading yet another concussion lawsuit against the NFL.  Is symbolizing the glory Snot Bubble Football days of old with a faux leather helmet the best PR move they could think of?

It seems that the NFL, as much as they want to portray themselves as a new modern and professionally caring and loving sport (Look up CYA in the legal dictionary and this is what you will find), really does not want to get away from or let go of their past.

Now if only they could institute one game of nostalgic uniforms AND rules, then they might have a really good idea and complete package that everybody would want to see!

HS Coaches and the NFL

I love this idea and hope every NFL team would do something similar. Not just for the sake of injuries but as an overall good learning experience and terrific PR.

From: Redskins invite high school coaches to attend minicamp practice.
By The Redskin Insider and Jason Reid.

Bruce Allen, the executive vice president and general manager of the Washington Redskins, announced Wednesday that the Redskins invited 500 area high school coaches to attend the team’s first minicamp practice, both to observe how the team runs its camp and to take part in a symposium on concussions.

Allen revealed the plans while speaking as a featured guest on Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill. Allen said during a panel presentation about concussion in sports and among youngsters that the team sent a letter to high school coaches this week extending an invitation to attend Coach Mike Shanahan’s first minicamp with the team.

According to a statement from the Redskins, high school coaches are invited to “attend a minicamp practice and have discussions on concussion awareness and education” on the morning of April 17.

“They’re going to be a part of minicamp,” Allen said after the forum. “They are going to get to watch practice, they’re going to get to learn Coach Shanahan and his staff’s coaching routine, they’re going to be able to learn a lot. But we are putting a concussion forum as part of the plan coupled with USA Football.”

Allen and former NFL player John Booty were members of a panel that included presentations from several leaders on concussion research regarding the effects of traumatic brain injury at all levels of athletics and including the impact of brain trauma on children.

Allen said during his presentation that under Commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL has introduced player safety as “this century’s first issue” and that the league has focused on injury prevention, equipment safety, rule changes and enforcement and player care — including mandated baseline testing and a “return to play” policy that requires a second opinion from independent neurological consultants.

As part of the panel, Robert Stern, co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at the Boston University School of Medicine, spoke of the impact of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that can present itself years or decades after repeated head trauma.

During his presentation, Stern said studies of brain samples of 12 deceased former football players showed that all had CTE — a figure that emphasized the importance of continued advances in player safety in the NFL.

“I think [concussion education and safety] is important but it’s not new,” Allen said after the event. “This has been a long-standing policy of the league. The commissioner has, as you’ve heard, his focal point has been player safety for a number of years. When a concussion affects a player it affects not only the team but [also] his family, and anything we can do to help the players that’s what we’re going to do. And these forums are great for everybody to learn about it.”