Players in four position groups were mandated to wear a product called
Fans won't see the caps in games, but clusters of lumpy helmeted heads on the practice field is a different look from previous years.
Corrugated foam strapped onto an already-padded helmet makes players' heads look outsized and bobblehead-like, even on a 270-pound lineman.
"They look really goofy, but I mean, they're meant to help our brains and possibly help in CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) prevention,"
"I guess we'll find out in 25 years."
Stampeders running back
"I do look like a bobblehead when I'm out there," Logan said.
Said
"We fought for player safety and the CFL came up with the idea of the Guardian Caps to help protect us," Matte said. "It takes some getting used to. They're kind of like miniature airbags on our heads.
"Some of us might like it, some of us might not like it, but it's one of those things that . . . we fought for so long for player safety with our bargaining agreements and this is just another one of those steps in the right direction to help keep players safe.”
Stampeders equipment manager
He says the caps weigh less than a pound, but they do make a helmet look bulky, which took some Stampeders aback when the covers were introduced in training camp.
"It gives you an extra layer of absorbency," Hopkins said. "It's going to stop and deaden some of the impact and that's basically what you're trying to do.
"It's big. We chose to do our colour the same as the helmet to try and make it a little less noticeable, but I don't think there's any way you can make that less noticeable."
The CFL made the caps mandatory this season for offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers and running backs in practices in which players wear pads. Other positional players can use them if they like.
"I'm a big proponent of head health and the Guardian Caps,"
"It definitely took some adjusting, for sure. In fact, I'm kind of still adjusting. It's a little bit heavier but it's kind of like running around with a weighted vest, a little bit . . . but I'd rather it be that than me taking hits to my head."
The NFL introduced the caps during the 2022 pre-season, and made them mandatory for the above-mentioned positions in contact practices throughout this season.
The NFL says its data indicates a
"If we get told it’s going to help our health long-term, I mean, we’re about it," said Mackie. "As players, we’re always preaching for the league to take care of us and be somewhat concerned about our health down the road.
"We don’t care how it looks if it’s going to help us down the road. We all want to make sure we live as long as we can and as healthy as we can."
The caps were among a suite of health-and-safety measures the CFL introduced this season along with collapsible tents near benches during games for medical assessments or examinations.
"We're going to do everything we can to keep our players as safe and as healthy and performing while they have their careers in the CFL and for their lives after," CFL commissioner
"Sometimes change is hard, sometimes new things are awkward and a little bit comfortable but that's not going to shake our focus on an effort to keep our players safe."
— With files from
This report by The Canadian Press was first published
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