Welcome to the terrible take a daily segment telling Steelers nation what's on our mind.

I'm Alex Kizora.

Today's take is sort of from left field and I admit a little tardy, But weeks ago the NFL announced players would be permitted to wear guardian caps the puffy looking hats players wear in training camp atop their helmet in regular season games.

The league felt confident enough in their data that these camps reduced concussions and

head injuries, which is awesome, a sincere and real achievement. However, there is one problem.

Will anyone wear it?

My guess is no.

Not because players are flipping about their own safety,

but the Guardian Caps, they're pretty ugly. Large and sort of fluffy on your helmet,

it's a tough sell for any player to look like the great gazoo out on the field. The reality is there has to be an

aesthetic along with safety.

It's like when I talked to the makers of Treadcal last year who make custom

thi pads in all cool designs. Players who would not wear them and practice put them on

because of their look.

This has been a challenge in other sports too.

Baseball, for example, has wrestled with player safety versus look.

The league has made larger pitching caps with protective padding to reduce injury

against those nasty comebackers, but few wore them because they were and are comically

large.

The NFL has done the hard part.

They found equipment to meaningfully reduce concussions even more than their helmet technology,

which is also making strides. But can they do it in a way that compels players to be safe and local to actually wear the equipment that will protect them? That is their next challenge.

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