NFL helmet-maker Schutt disputes findings in safety study

Earlier this week, a study by Virginia Tech researchers revealed that NFL players wore low-rated helmets, raising their risk of suffering concussions. Schutt, one of the helmet makers cited in the study, responded to the findings on Friday.

Company spokesman Glenn Beckmann said there are "inherent" problems with the Virginia Tech study, despite Schutt helmets being among the highest-rated. Beckmann pointed to some official NFL injury report statistics from the last two seasons to back up his company's skepticism:

Of 297 NFL players wearing the Riddell Speed helmet (rated 5 stars in the study), there were 30 concussions suffered.
Of 303 players wearing the Schutt Air XP (rated 3 stars), there were 27 concussions suffered.
Of 489 players wearing the Schutt Air Advantage (rated 2 stars), there were 31 concussions suffered.
Beckmann used those figures to question the validity of the study's findings: "How can 3-star and 2-star helmets have just as good or better record on the field as a 5-star helmet if the Virginia Tech rating system is a true predictor of concussion prevention?"

Beckmann argued that the study shouldn't be a true predictor of concussion prevention because the researchers only simulated helmet-to-ground impacts, instead of helmet-to-helmet collisions, which other studies have found to be the cause of most concussions. Beckmann added that two other key aspects were missing in the research.

"Rotational impact forces and time duration of impact, both known factors in causing concussions, were completely ignored in the study," said Beckmann.

He also said that the Virginia Tech study's use of a star-rating system as a determining factor is "presumptuous, possibly irresponsible and probably dangerous" because researchers have yet to determine the actual causation of concussions.