Michael Vick Helps in Launching New Helmets for Extra Head Protection

The past couple of seasons have seen many head injuries resulting in the feared concussion. 

It has seemed that almost every week a big hit was on the highlights, and players were being carted off the field. This realization has grown to raise awareness not only around the league, but the world as well.

A brand called Unequal Technologies has released a new padding technique that aims to avoid and bring down the amount of head injuries and concussions.

A few months back, Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick became Unequal Protection's first corporate spokesman.

The newest installment of the shock-absorbing pads are called EXO Skeleton, a protective pad that is very light and extremely flexible. These pads are simply placed inside the helmet and absorb contact from a hard collision.

Vick started wearing the new pads right after he sustained a rib injury at the beginning of the season. But the pads aren't foreign to the league.

In fact, the Pittsburgh Steelers wore them in Super Bowl XLV, and WR Emmanuel Sanders suffered the only injury in the game for the team. The injury was a foot injury, so the pads certainly helped avoid anything serious. 

The pads are starting to see action in other sports as well. Baseball, hockey and lacrosse have all adopted the EXO Skeleton pads, and have liked what they have seen.

So will the implement of these new pads help avoid injuries, particularly to the head?

The NFL is taking this very seriously, changing the rules that dish out large penalties and fines if a player purposely gives an unnecessary blow to the head.

Hopefully, this will cut down on the number of concussions around the league. Vick will not be the only star flaunting in them either. 

Concussions are a very serious injury. The long-term effects are surely not good, with the amount of impact and pressure on the brain becoming debilitating at times. But, maybe they have seen their final days on the turf.