Cardinals' J.J. Watt criticizes 'bobblehead' Guardian Caps

Per an NFL resolution passed in March, all offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, and tight ends must wear protective Guardian Caps during training camp practices through at least the second preseason game in an attempt to prevent concussions and other head injuries. 

Arizona Cardinals star pass-rusher and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt let it be known when speaking with reporters on Friday he's not keen on rocking the soft and padded shells that attach to the outside of standard football helmets. 

"You feel like a bobblehead," Watt explained, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "Like you're gonna fall over. I'll probably get fined for this. This is great. You guys are just screwing me to start out the whole year. There's 15 grand gone."

The NFL has claimed that Guardian Caps "can reduce concussions by up to 10 percent  if one player involved in a collision is wearing one of them and up to 20 percent if both players involved in a collision have them on." During his Friday comments, Watt suggested he has other reasons to utilize the caps this summer beyond just his health. 

"Absolutely," Watt said about why the caps are deemed necessary. "I'm not an idiot. I mean, I may have worn no Guardian Cap for 12 years, but I'm not that dumb, all right? Of course I know. I'm not gonna get too deep into this because I've already got 20 grand down. So we're looking at 50 [thousand] as the next one and then probably like a four-game suspension is after that. So, Guardian Caps are great, love them. It's a great addition. We should wear it all the time.

"We got a couple guys that might need to wear them just like walking around."

There's zero indication the NFL will change its mind about the Guardian Caps anytime soon, so Watt and others would do well to embrace them as quickly as possible. As Mike Florio noted for Pro Football Talk, the soft caps help protect the hands of quarterbacks from accidentally striking hard helmets during follow-throughs on pass plays. That makes them even more beneficial in the eyes of coaches.