Former NFL Player Ryan Riddle Suggests League Adopts Helmet With Padding on Outside, Softer Shoulder Pads

If the NFL wants to take its concussion problem seriously, they may need to make some drastic changes.

Helmet companies have tinkered with the design of the plastic helmet since the 1950s, but nothing revolutionary has come about since the downfall of helmets made of leather. One former NFL player suggests the league should go away from hard plastic helmets.

[tweet https://twitter.com/Ryan_Riddle/status/353818542656868352 align=center]

That seems to make a lot of sense. It’s still fully padded, but players would be less likely to use their head as a weapon. There’s also less chance for whiplash.

As long as the outer padding is hard enough, risks of the neck taking more of an impact are lessened.

Ryan Riddle, who played with the Raiders, Jets, Falcons and Ravens and now writes for Bleacher Report, also suggests making a change to shoulder pads.

[tweet https://twitter.com/Ryan_Riddle/status/353821416925315074 align=center]

These ideas are at least worth testing. If drastic changes are not brought about, the sport may not be around in 50 years.

Have a question for Doug Kyed? Send it to him via Twitter at @DougKyedNESN or send it here.