Love NFL players but...
...why strap a mouthguard onto your helmet if you're not going to wear it?
Let's get this out into the open first, I love football. American Football (all respect to football/soccer!). I've been around the sport for as long as I can remember. My dad coached it. I played it. I coached it. My kids played it. It's my favorite sport. Nothing else comes close. It's so good on so many levels for our kids and the most fun sport to watch by a long margin IMO. Are there risks? Of course. Should you educate yourself, and your kids, before deciding to jump in? Of course, you should. Safety should always be your top priority, as a coach or a player. No question. Is it? Not always. Unfortunately, it's sometime treated as an afterthought. Shame on you if you're one of those coaches or players who don't take it seriously. It's easy to do everything you can to be safe. Like wearing your mouthpiece.
Like many Americans, I love to plant myself on the couch on Saturday and Sunday and participate in our favorite past time, watching elite athletes go at it while constantly yelling at (or with!) those around me spewing about how I know more than they do. I mean, why do you not ALWAYS run a play action roll out, with the TE bouncing into the flat wide freaking open for an easy TD every time you're inside the 5 yd line! I mean COME ON!!! Sorry, I regress.
Here's my hysterical observation, why do NFL players choose to strap a mouthpiece on their faceguard and then NOT WEAR IT? I mean, contrary to popular belief, wearing a mouthpiece is NOT required in the NFL. It's not mandatory. In fact, in the official NFL 2022 Rules, the only mention of a mouthpiece is related to Personal Messages (Rule 5, Article 8*) and General Appearance (Rule 5, Article 9*). Nothing is found related to mandatory use of it. It's a CHOICE a player can make. We can argue how it's a smart choice to wear one given the amount of contact that exists in the sport, but no player is going to get fined for not using one.
So why then do so many of them choose to have one flapping around in front of their face for 60 minutes? It can't be for the look, can it? Is it intimidating to lineup across from someone with a big white thing flapping around off your helmet? Why strap it on if you're not going to use it? I mean, WHY?
I'm not judging. I'm really not. These are elite athletes who work incredibly hard to get themselves, and keep themselves, in peak physical condition. They go out, and perform, yes perform, for us every week. They make inconceivable amounts of money. I know they wouldn't knowingly risk their health, and those huge paychecks, every time they step between the lines. I mean, player health concerns while playing and support for after they retire from the sport, are always making news. It should. A player's health should always be #1. They should be taken care of for life after they are finished playing. They make their teams and owners stupid amounts of money. Some of it is my money. Hearing the NFLPA talk, I can't imagine a player not putting their health first. Yet, my observation is that some of them do. Crazy as it sounds, it's true. It's also true that it's their choice. I respect that. If you don't want to wear one, fine. Just don't pretend your health is top of mind and strap one on your helmet to just have it flap in the wind (or rain, or snow) every time you step on the field! Stop this and just leave it in your locker. You look silly out there.
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