Tag: Helmets

Saints support Jacob Blake protests in training camp practice

The New Orleans Saints added helmet stickers carrying Jacob Blake’s name during training camp practice, showing solidarity with protestors.

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The police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., has resonated throughout the professional sports world. NBA players staged a strike during their Wednesday playoff series, with WNBA and MLB players also joining them in solidarity. The latest shooting of an unarmed Black person by police has been a tipping point after protests earlier this summer following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many more.

In the NFL, some teams have chosen to postpone or cancel their training camp practice sessions and scrimmages on Thursday. While the New Orleans Saints will be working in their indoor practice facility due to inclement weather from Hurricane Laura, they’ll be making their own tribute to the protests following Blake’s shooting.

Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins shared a photo on his Instagram account of his practice helmet, which features a sticker carrying Blake’s name. The Saints normally wear stickers listing their surnames in practice, but those appear to have been switched out.

Players also received a flier in their lockers with a photograph of Muhammad Ali, along with a quote from him. Larger posters of the same image have been installed throughout the Saints locker room, per Cameron Jordan’s Instagram account:

While the Saints have not joined other NFL teams in canceling practice on Thursday (and do not plan to, per a report from ESPN’s Dianna Russini), this is very much a developing situation in the sports world at large. Stay tuned for updates.

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Look: Rams hold first practice with new helmets

The Rams put on their new helmets for practice for the first time Thursday.

The Rams are taking things slow at training camp this year, just as every other team is. The NFL has put in protocols to prevent teams from ramping up too quickly after a completely virtual offseason, such as not allowing padded practices until Aug. 17.

The next step taken by the Rams came on Thursday when they strapped on their helmets for the first time of camp. It wasn’t full-contact practice and players were mostly going through individual drills, but it was great to see those bright new helmets on the field.

Darrell Henderson was looking good in the royal jersey and shorts, complemented by his blue and yellow helmet.

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HELMETS 🔛‼️

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The defense was rocking bone practice jerseys, which look great with the new helmets, too.

Here are some other highlights shared on the Rams’ Instagram story, including Clay Johnston taking out a blocking sled.

The Rams will put the pads on Monday as part of the continuing ramp-up period before the season. With no preseason and a shortened training camp, they’re doing everything they can to not only prepare for the season, but also prevent injury.

Players in Washington finally wear new helmets, and it’s a beautiful sight

Thursday’s practice marked the day that players could wear helmets for the first time this year, giving us a chance to see the new looks.

The time has finally come for players in Washington to put on their new logo-less helmets and get to work in practice. Though training camp has been going on for a bit now, Thursday morning was the first time that Washington Football Team players were allowed to buckle up their chin-straps and get down to business.

The new helmets in Washington aren’t much different than ones in the past, with all of the color-ways staying the same. The only difference is the removal of the former team logo on the side, and a missing stripe down the crown of the helmet as well. The former logo has been replaced by players’ numbers, which will assuredly make alums from the University of Alabama feel right at home.

In an odd year where even the NFL has been upheaved a bit by the coronavirus, seeing players get back into their helmets and visors is such a welcomed sight.

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LOOK: Washington shows off new helmets featuring numbers instead of logo

Washington posted the first real images of new helmets without the former team logo on it, with players numbers featured instead.

Are you still questioning whether or not the new helmets in Washington will look cool without the former team logo on the side? Well, whether you like it or not, it’s going to be something you’ll have to get used to, at least for the next year or so, and there’s a good chance that it’ll grow on you.

The Washington Football Team official Twitter account released pictures and a video of Landon Collins’ helmet being prepared with the No. 20 on the side, which we already got a glimpse of earlier this offseason when the Pro-Bowl safety posted a jersey mock-up on his Instagram page and teased what the new fits might look like.

It may be too ‘college-like’ for some, but you can guarantee that any player from the University of Alabama will feel right at home wearing their number on the dome, and the rest of the players will come to like it eventually as well.

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Look: Texas Longhorns new helmets revealed

With the coronavirus pandemic many new guidelines have been put in place. The Longhorns revealed their helmets with new splash guards.

The upcoming season for the Texas Longhorns will be one like we’ve never seen before. The coronavirus pandemic has led to many changes. Some schools are offering online courses for students who don’t want to risk contracting COVID-19. Social distancing measures have been put in place where students and faculty alike are not to be within six feet of each other where possible. Everywhere you go there are people wearing masks. One of the big questions was how do they protect the players?

In Major League Baseball they have tried masks, playing in empty stadiums and limited physical touch in celebrations. As for the NBA and NHL, they are playing in a bubble environment. So measures could they take in football? Well masks seemed to be one way. For this upcoming season the Longhorns will be wearing Schutt helmets with custom visors. Texas football shared photos of the new helmets on Twitter.

The helmets have been fitted with a custom Nike visor that goes to the bottom of the face mask. It does have holes at the bottom to allow for breathing and hopefully won’t fog up the mask so players can see. It remains unclear at this point as to how the players will adjust to the new visors. With fall camp just around the corner as teams prepare for the season, we should get some idea as to how well these visors will work.

The new splash guards look good but it remains to be seen how well they will protect these athletes once they get on the field.

Rivals recruiting director lists top 10 college football helmets

Mike Farrell of Rivals recently released his top ten college football helmets, but we have a few concerns with the rankings.

At first glance, you may wonder if a toddler assisted in ranking this particular list of the top 10 college football helmets. Continue reading “Rivals recruiting director lists top 10 college football helmets”

Seahawks uniforms come in at No. 5 on Touchdown Wire’s rankings

The Seahawks uniforms were bested only by the Cowboys, Ravens, Lions and Chargers in Touchdown Wire’s rankings.

The fine folks over at Touchdown Wire gave NFL fans something to debate this week, ranking each team based on their uniforms. The Seattle Seahawks came in at No. 5 overall on the list, ranking behind the Cowboys, Ravens, Lions and Chargers.

“Pick any look or color combination you want,” author Barry Warner wrote. “The Seattle Seahawks always look great when they take the field.”

The Seahawks have stuck with the royal blue and green combination for some time, although they have alternates in white and grey as well. Perhaps their most controversial uniforms are the color rush neon greens, which they bust out a few times per year, when allowed.

Because of the NFL’s rule only allowing teams to wear one helmet per season, the Seahawks have not gone back to the bright blue uniforms they dawned from 1976-2002.

However, those rules are being discussed, and already quarterback Russell Wilson has voiced his support for wearing the throwbacks in the future, if they are able to get the rule changed.

For now, Seattle can rest easy knowing they have among the best uniforms in the game.

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Georgia great Todd Gurley going to look fresh in new Atlanta Falcons’ uniforms

Former UGA football RB Todd Gurley is going to look sick in these new Atlanta Falcons uniforms.

It’s been 17 years since the Atlanta Falcons made a significant uniform change. On Wednesday, the team released their new Nike-designed uniforms.

The new look will feature an all black ensemble for home games with white jerseys and white pants on the road. The helmet retains the familiar logo but will change to a matte finish. Several of the uniforms will showcase ‘ATL’ on the front of the jersey.

There will be eight different color combinations, including the current 1966 throwback version, and a new “Rise Up” alternate uniform.

The Falcons finished 7-9 last season. During the off-season, Atlanta signed former Georgia running back and past NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley to a one-year contract. In addition, the team traded for former South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst. On offense, the team should be well-stacked with Matt Ryan at quarterback, Alabama alums Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley at wide receiver and five former first rounders on the offensive line.  The Falcons currently have five draft picks in the upcoming draft, including the No. 16 pick in round one.

“Black has been a part of our history since 1966 and both our fans and players have asked us to bring it back,” owner Arthur Blank wrote in a statement. “The ‘ATL’ moniker is known around the world and we now we it proudly as our badge of unity, diversity and togetherness. Something our world needs more of, especially in these tough times.”

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