Brandon Spikes won’t look quite as intimidating in 2014, and that’s not only because he’ll be wearing Buffalo Bills red, white and blue rather than New England Patriots blue, silver and red.
The facemask Spikes wore in 2013 will be banned by the NFL next season, the NFL announced Tuesday. The league is putting an end to “non-standard/overbuilt”, or “Bane”-style facemasks due to safety concerns.
The non-standard facemask was made popular by current Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck when he played for the New York Giants. The NFL’s announcement states that the masks add weight to helmets that can cause neck fatigue, causing players to lead with the head.
Photo via USA Today Sports Images
