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 shield his mind from long-term injury.
“At one level folks thought seatbelts have been f—ing silly,” Granson informed The Athletic on Thursday. “Why wouldn’t I (put on it)? Simply because it seems foolish? I really feel like well being and security is extra vital 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 lot 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 appreciated the outcomes to this point, and now that the league will permit gamers to put on them in video games, Granson believes it’s a “no-brainer” for him to additional shield his mind.
“There’s no quantity of aesthetic that might outweigh what a TBI (traumatic mind damage) might do to you,” Granson mentioned by way of 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 fruits of a bunch of little hits.”
He in contrast somebody’s mind to Jell-O, explaining each time a soccer participant takes successful and their mind shakes like Jell-O, it could not appear to be a lot within the second but it surely might have a dire and even lethal impact down the road. Granson additionally famous a whole lot 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 crew reaches the playoffs.
Granson, 26, suffered a concussion in a Week 6 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars final 12 months and was sidelined for the following two video games.
Nevertheless, Granson mentioned 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 have been later identified with CTE, function sobering reminders for Granson.
“I wish to dwell eternally,” Granson informed The Athletic, partly joking. “I don’t need anybody to dig me up after I’m gone and test 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 baby’s first steps. However except for his personal needs, he believes it’s his duty to set an instance for the hundreds of thousands of youngsters who look as much as NFL gamers.
“I wish to encourage children to assume that well being and security can be cool,” Granson mentioned on Instagram. “You are able to do cool issues out on the soccer discipline and nonetheless put on a Guardian Cap. I would like my (future) kids to put on helmets once they experience a motorcycle. … As a result of there’s no quantity of cool that will 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 reviews Guardian Caps have resulted in a 50 % lower in concussions amongst gamers who’ve worn them in follow.
NFL govt vice chairman Jeff Miller informed ESPN earlier this 12 months along with Guardian Caps, “there are new helmets this 12 months that present as a lot — if no more — safety than a special helmet mannequin paired with a Guardian Cap.”
Finally, it’s nonetheless the participant’s alternative, and it actually makes for a scorching subject 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. Granson is one in all a minimum of two Indianapolis gamers who will don the added head gear regardless, as security Rodney Thomas II informed The Athletic he plans to put on a Guardian Cap through the common season, too.
Colts working again Jonathan Taylor is arguably essentially 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 mentioned 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 delicate.
“It’s larger than me. It’s larger than simply trying cool,” Granson mentioned. “And if I can do the identical issues on the sector, and be secure on the identical time, why would I not need that? As a fan, why would you not need that? A few of your greatest gamers might play for longer and shield their well being.”
Required studying
(Picture: Jeff Moreland / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
