Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison said he has endured more than 10 concussions over his decade-long career, prompting him to begin using a special layer of padding inside his helmet last fall to offset the potential for more brain-rattled symptoms.
He is the first NFL player to use the CRT padding inside his helmet developed by Unequal Technologies. The results have been outstanding, Harrison said.
“I haven’t seen any spots or had any blackouts,” Harrison said Tuesday.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick began using a flak jacket lined with military-grade Kevlar during the 2010 season, but Harrison was the first player to put the quarter-inch padding in his helmet.
He’s been joined around 100 players over the last 12 months and said the extra three or four ounces is worth the feeling of safety it provides.
“To protect my head I’d take a pound more,” Harrison said.
The outspoken 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year said the movement to this protective measure could catch on. One of the NFL’s fiercest hitters, Harrison said he played through concussion-like symptoms in the past but as he’s aged has become more wary of the long-lasting impact repeated head shots can have on a player’s future health.
“If something works, I’m going to use it,” he said.
The green padding uses material developed to protect combat military personnel. The padding square packs that can be cut into different shapes then stuck inside helmets from various sports, including hockey and baseball.
Harrison became aware of the product while looking for a little extra protection after fracturing his right orbital bone last season. Pittsburgh backup quarterback Charlie Batch, a member of the NFL Players Association’s executive council, introduced CRT to player representatives from around the league, which quickly helped expand usage.
Unequal Technologies president Robert Vito said the product doesn’t claim to prevent concussions but that anecdotal evidence from players from all levels seem to indicate the material can help minimize the recurrence of concussions.
Harrison noted the NFL has gone to great lengths to address concussions and hand out “crazy fines” to players who make illegal hits but haven’t taken aggressive action in trying to update the equipment.
“The league is mandating next year that we wear thigh and knee pads,” Harrison said. “I don’t know how many people’s career has been ended on a thigh or knee bruise. We have guys now that are 30, 31 years old that are having to quit the game because they have severe headaches … I think you should be focusing more on (the helmet) than knee or thigh pads.”
