‘You HAVE to take the armor off!’: Sports fans are begging the NFL to make uniform changes and become more rugby-like in the wake of Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest… because they say the players currently use pads as ‘weapons’
Sports fans are calling for the NFL to consider changes to uniform armor after Damar Hamlin’s on-field cardiac arrest.
The 24-year-old Buffalo Bills player was said to have ‘progressed’ on his ventilator use from 100 percent to 50 percent late Tuesday.
Hamlin collapsed following a collision with Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins on Monday and was rushed to the hospital after receiving emergency medical treatment at the stadium.
Damar Hamlin suffered an on-field cardiac arrest after colliding with the Bengals’ Tee Higgins
Football like rugby involves brutal hits but the English sport does not involve any padding
The Bills safety may have suffered a one-in-200million heart injury that shut off blood to his brain and triggered cardiac arrest, doctors said.
The horrific moment brought attention back to what NFL players wear and whether armor should be used.
Football like rugby involves brutal hits and powerful tackles but the English sport does not involve any padding.
NFL armor usually includes a helmet, face mask, shoulder pads and body pads.
The horrifying incident brought attention to whether body armor should be used in the NFL
Some fans have questioned whether NFL players would change the way they tackled if they didn’t have armor protection.
One Twitter user commented: ‘I wonder what would happen if they removed all the pads and gave them leather helmets?
‘The reason they go through the wall with hits is because they’re wearing armor. You [don’t] look at dudes launching themselves like that in rugby.
‘If you don’t have all the weapons they have to tackle differently like rugby.
‘You have to take off the armor. Hamlin’s hit was due to the running back using his stiff shoulder pads as a weapon. That can’t be done in rugby.’
In the conversation, another replied: ‘Football is a good sport. It’s also a bloody sport, and I don’t see it going on for too many years like this. Something has to give.
‘There was a push years ago to get the NCAA to standardize rugby-forms, but I don’t think it went anywhere.’
Fans have called on the NFL to consider using body armor after Monday’s game
In the wake of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, another social media user said: ‘@NFL Time to revisit equipment helmet, body armor, whatever. Don’t wait another day… reach out to these companies and scientists – let’s do it. Thank you #damarhamlin.’
While one said: ‘I realize it’s counterintuitive but football could be safer from organ impact injuries if there was less armor on the body, not more.
Body armor increases the force of impact contact between players. It can protect against some injuries but not this one.’
Another social media user wrote: ‘#NFL desperately needs new pad technology. They need to eliminate spine compression injuries for the neck and back and chest cavity. I recommend some form of shell like a knights armor that works. Lightweight and impact protective.’
Jordan Rooney, a family friend and Hamlin representative, revealed the family’s dismay that Higgins — the Bengals player involved in confronting Hamlin — received backlash online.
‘Damar’s parents were disappointed that Tee was getting such a negative reaction, he reached out and supported Damar and his family,’ he told ESPN Tuesday.
Over the summer, the NFL announced a new league-wide soft-shell Guardian Cap for training camps ahead of the 2022 season to limit head injuries.
Hamlin (No. 3) got up briefly after making a tackle with Higgins before collapsing in shocking scenes as the Buffalo Bills played the Cincinnati Bengals
Moments later Hamlin collapsed, falling backwards and motionless to the floor
