INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts tight finish Kylen Granson wore a Guardian Cap over his helmet through 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 instructed 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 essential than aesthetics.”
After Granson’s feedback went viral, the four-year professional defined his place even additional in an Instagram video Friday. Granson and a whole bunch of different NFL gamers started sporting Guardian Caps, basically soft-shell pads connected to their helmets, when the NFL mandated sure place teams put on them in follow forward of the 2022 season.
He’s preferred the outcomes thus far, 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 might outweigh what a TBI (traumatic mind damage) might do to you,” Granson stated through Instagram. “And one of many extra unknown issues is that not solely is it the massive hits that it’s a must to fear about, it’s the end result 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 might not seem to be a lot within the second however it might have a dire and even lethal impact down the road. Granson additionally famous a whole bunch 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 wish to stay endlessly,” Granson instructed The Athletic, partly joking. “I don’t need anybody to dig me up after I’m gone and verify my mind.”
Granson elaborated much more on Instagram, saying he needs to have the ability to keep in mind the primary dance at his forthcoming wedding ceremony “30 years from now” and his future baby’s first steps. However apart from his personal needs, he believes it’s his duty to set an instance for the tens of millions of youngsters who look as much as NFL gamers.
“I wish 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 discipline and nonetheless put on a Guardian Cap. I need my (future) kids to put on helmets once they journey a motorcycle. … As a result of there’s no quantity of cool that might be value strolling right into a hospital room and your baby’s in a vegetative state as a result of they weren’t sporting a helmet. As a result of they didn’t wish to look dumb.”
Since 2022, the NFL stories Guardian Caps have resulted in a 50 % lower in concussions amongst gamers who’ve worn them in follow.
NFL government vice chairman Jeff Miller instructed 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 special helmet mannequin paired with a Guardian Cap.”
In the end, it’s nonetheless the participant’s alternative, and it definitely makes for a sizzling subject in NFL locker rooms. Some Colts gamers, who’re supportive of Granson sporting a Guardian Cap, are vehemently in opposition to sporting one themselves due to the way it seems to be. Granson is one in all a minimum of two Indianapolis gamers who will don the added head gear regardless, as security Rodney Thomas II instructed The Athletic he plans to put on a Guardian Cap through the common season, too.
Colts operating again Jonathan Taylor is arguably probably the most outstanding NFL participant to put on a Guardian Cap through the preseason, although he was noncommittal about sporting it within the common season.
Granson stated through Instagram he loves soccer with all of his coronary heart, however it’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 delicate.
“It’s larger than me. It’s larger than simply trying cool,” Granson stated. “And if I can do the identical issues on the sphere, and be secure 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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(Picture: Jeff Moreland / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
