INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts tight finish Kylen Granson wore a Guardian Cap over his helmet throughout 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 have been f—ing silly,” Granson advised The Athletic on Thursday. “Why wouldn’t I (put on it)? Simply because it appears 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 lot of different NFL gamers started sporting Guardian Caps, basically soft-shell pads hooked up to their helmets, when the NFL mandated sure place teams put on them in observe forward of the 2022 season.
He’s preferred the outcomes to this point, 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 would outweigh what a TBI (traumatic mind harm) might do to you,” Granson mentioned through Instagram. “And one of many extra unknown issues is that not solely is it the massive hits that you need 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 look like a lot within the second nevertheless it 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 staff reaches the playoffs.
Granson, 26, suffered a concussion in a Week 6 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars final yr 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 recognized with CTE, function sobering reminders for Granson.
“I wish to stay perpetually,” Granson advised 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 desires to have the ability to keep in mind the primary dance at his forthcoming wedding ceremony “30 years from now” and his future little one’s first steps. However apart from his personal needs, he believes it’s his accountability to set an instance for the thousands and thousands of youngsters who look as much as NFL gamers.
“I wish to encourage youngsters to suppose that well being and security can be cool,” Granson mentioned on Instagram. “You are able to do cool issues out on the soccer area and nonetheless put on a Guardian Cap. I need my (future) kids to put on helmets once they trip a motorcycle. … As a result of there’s no quantity of cool that will be value strolling right into a hospital room and your little one’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 p.c lower in concussions amongst gamers who’ve worn them in observe.
NFL government vp Jeff Miller advised 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 distinct helmet mannequin paired with a Guardian Cap.”
Finally, 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 appears. Granson is one in all a minimum of two Indianapolis gamers who will don the added head gear regardless, as security Rodney Thomas II advised The Athletic he plans to put on a Guardian Cap throughout the common season, too.
Colts operating again Jonathan Taylor is arguably essentially the most outstanding NFL participant to put on a Guardian Cap throughout the preseason, although he was noncommittal about sporting it within the common season.
Granson mentioned through Instagram he loves soccer with all of his coronary heart, nevertheless 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 smooth.
“It’s greater than me. It’s greater than simply trying cool,” Granson mentioned. “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 greatest gamers might play for longer and defend their well being.”
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(Photograph: Jeff Moreland / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
