Collie has a new helmet

[CaptainHook]

In addition to competing for spots on the 53-man roster, five Indianapolis Colts veterans are having tryouts for helmets this preseason.

 

It began in February when wide receiver Austin Collie, who suffered two concussions and a recurrence last season, began working with Hall of Fame motor sports safety pioneer Bill Simpson.

 

While Collie has declined to discuss his new carbon fiber Kevlar helmet, which has additional padding and weighs just two pounds as opposed to the typical five- to seven-pound models, Simpson said the receiver has told him he likes it.

 

Collie's helmet made other Colts curious, including some established Pro Bowl stars.

 

Defensive end Dwight Freeney tried one Monday for about 30 minutes. Tight end Dallas Clark, who has had multiple concussions in his career, has been fitted. So, too, have center Jeff Saturday and offensive lineman Ryan Diem.

 

"Clark loved it," said Simpson, who is in a partnership with accomplished auto racing team owner Chip Ganassi on the venture. "It's significantly better in impacts than what they have been using."

 

Simpson has been working on a safer helmet since 2009. He conducted 400 impact tests and made frequent design changes.

 

"I think weight is the biggest issue," said Simpson, 71. "If a five-pound helmet at 20 mph hits a wall and a two-pound helmet at 20 mph hits a wall, the five-pound one is going to have way more energy than the two-pound one. That's just simple physics.

 

"We need to find out what the weaknesses are and the strengths. The most important thing is to lessen the effect of concussions."

 

Simpson spent much of Monday and part of Tuesday going back and forth from his Brownsburg, Ind., shop to the Colts complex on West 56th Street. He was working on fittings for the other four players.

 

"We'll give it a shot and see how we like it," Diem said. "I've put it on my head but haven't practiced with it. I'm curious. That's why I decided to try it. Anything that could help protect us down the road long term would be a good thing."

 

The helmets have been approved by the NFL, which has come under extensive scrutiny in recent years for its handling of concussions. Seven former players, including quarterback Jim McMahon, filed a lawsuit last week that accused the league of turning a "blind eye" to concussions during their playing days.

 

Freeney, Diem and Saturday don't have a concussion history.

 

"I'm not a guy who has had a lot of concussions," Freeney said. "I don't think every guy who doesn't wear his helmet is going to have a concussion. God willing, you never have to address that issue. But if you have one hit that gives you a concussion, then there will be that question, 'If I wore his helmet, would I have had that?'

 

"If I change, I have to feel the same type of comfort level. If I don't feel as comfortable, then I don't want it to hinder every single play I'm out there. If I'm out there for so many plays and every time I put my head down I'm thinking about my damn helmet, that helmet has done more pain to me than good."

 

from IndyStar.com