| Exciting changes in NFL football helmets are taking | | | | helmets is going, Mr. Egues regards the Sideline |
| place. According to Tony Egues, Head Equipment | | | | Response System technology with a lot of caution. He |
| Manager of the Miami Dolphins, it is not unlikely for the | | | | admits that the technology is still at its infancy. He |
| future football helmets to be equipped with the Sideline | | | | emphasizes that the welfare of the most precious |
| Response System technology. The electronic readers | | | | commodity of the league, the athletes, is still the |
| of the Sideline Response System have the ability to | | | | primary concern of the research. He assures the |
| measure the force a player is subjected to upon | | | | league, team owners and the players that they will |
| impact apart from providing vital signs during the game. | | | | incorporate the technology in the helmets only after it |
| The information gathered by these readers and the | | | | has been perfected. More importantly, he admits that |
| changes in NFL football helmets may prevent not just | | | | incorporating the latest technology for the sake of |
| injuries but permanent disability and even death among | | | | technology is not necessarily beneficial to the league |
| the players. | | | | and the athletes. The relevance and necessity of the |
| During a recent meeting between team physicians and | | | | technology will still have to be established before it is |
| athletic trainers of the NFL and the NCAA, Mr. Egues | | | | incorporated formally into the league's helmet design. |
| presented what he foresees are the changes in NFL | | | | Mr. Egues expressed his fear of becoming too |
| football helmets. He estimates that these changes will | | | | dependent on the technology. While the Sideline |
| take place at a rapid pace, probably in the next three | | | | Response System has the ability to measure the |
| to five years. | | | | force the player sustains during the game, human |
| For Mr. Egues the changes in NFL football helmets will | | | | intervention is still necessary. Mr. Egues emphasizes |
| be fueled largely by technology. The football helmets | | | | that the team physician will be the one to decide, |
| five years from now will be equipped with the Sideline | | | | based on the data from the helmet, if the player needs |
| Response System Technology which can measure | | | | to be pulled-out of the game and not the Sideline |
| body temperature and heart rate in real time. Currently, | | | | Response System. |
| prototypes of these revolutionary helmets are being | | | | These hesitations notwithstanding, Mr. Egues remains |
| tested in the NCAA and on several high school teams. | | | | optimistic about the impending changes in NFL football |
| Mr. Egues anticipates further that the changes will go | | | | helmets and he is not alone. The manufacturers are |
| beyond than merely monitoring the condition of the | | | | conducting their own research on how to improve |
| players in real time. For him, these changes may very | | | | helmet safety. Mr. Egues welcomes these independent |
| well enable manufacturers to produce helmets tailored | | | | studies by manufacturers. He notes that more |
| to meet the exact needs of each player. | | | | research can only lead to better helmet designs. |
| As exciting as the direction the changes in NFL football | | | | |