NFL News 2026 General NFL News/Discussion/Non-Patriots free agents

[Uptown]

 

[Raccoonsuit]

They got smaller! Er, sleeker

Guardian Sports - NFL Allows Guardian Cap 2.0 for 2026 Season

The NFL's Guardian Cap mandate is back for 2026. Teams can now choose between the Guardian Cap NXT and the all-new Guardian Cap NXT 2.0.

guardiansports.com

 

[Water Boy]

I'm wondering why they can't make helmets out of foam rubber with say a little stiffer rubber exterior without the rigid shell and with some imbeded frame work to support the face mask.

The rigid shell of today's helmet has no give and helmet to helmet contact imparts significant force inward. If the exterior of both helmets had cushion at the point of impact one would think the forces would be significantly reduced.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I'm wondering why they can't make helmets out of foam rubber with say a little stiffer rubber exterior without the rigid shell and with some imbeded frame work to support the face mask.

The rigid shell of today's helmet has no give and helmet to helmet contact imparts significant force inward. If the exterior of both helmets had cushion at the point of impact one would think the forces would be significantly reduced.

The rigid shell distributes the force over the whole interior spreading out the force over the whole head. Your idea absorbs and reduces the force which is then not distributed over the whole head (scull) but would be directed to a single portion of the head. I am not sure which is better - distributing with a hard shell or absorbing with rubber - I have not seen the testing.

The new outer shell approved for 2026 appears to do both. The outer rubber shell absorbs some of the force like you suggest and the inner hard shell distributes the remaining force over the whole head.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

If you’re expecting a Star Wars joke from me on May the Fourth then you’re looking in alderaan places..

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

One of the dudes I had interest in as an UDFA..