Lavonte David Not A Big Fan Of Guardian Caps
September 24th, 2025
Lavonte David could do without Guardian Caps in training camp.
If it was up to Bucs icon Lavonte David, he’d never wear the Guardian Caps.
What are “Guardian Caps?” It’s those Great Gazoo-looking things players wear over their helmets. The NFL, in its never-ending fear of personal injury attorneys, concocted them to cut down on concussions and, indirectly, perhaps CTE.
While Joe admits they must work and it’s a good thing if they prevent concussions, they still look ridiculous. If that offends folks, sorry.
During training camp, the NFL mandates players wear those things. They are optional for players to wear for the regular season. For now. Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke, who missed four starts with a concussion last year, wears one in games and practices.
David doesn’t want to wear one in training camp, not because they look cartoonish, but David said the Guardian Caps muffle the sound of a hit or a tackle. As a result, Dhedoesn’t know if he is tackling properly or not.
“We have to wear them in training camp,” David said yesterday while appearing on the “Pat McAfee Show. “And then you know in training camp, you got the 9-on-7 drills. When you get in the 9-on-7 drills, you want to hear the pads slapping — pow, pow, pow! (David clapped his hands each time he says “pow.”). But you can’t hear that with the Guardian Cap. And it sounds so soft so you can’t really gauge or tell” if you’re get getting in a good lick.
“But [the Guardian Caps] definitely protect you, though, I would say that.”
It’s cool that David can tell if he had a good tackle or laid a good hit just by the sound of the pads popping.
One reason David became such a star NFL player is he picked up on so many little things to make adjustments and hone his craft to hopefully, someday, become a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Real Men do not need helmets at all
September 24th, 2025 at 10:26 am
Neal
Perhaps you’ve played a lot of football yourself since that’s an incredibly brain dead argument.
I get the “taste” part of the argument. So they look goofy! I’m starting to get used to it.
How this society has become so glazed over with a lack of care for the fellow human beings. As Joe at least suggests SCIENCE backs this up. So if there is something that can save the game we love while simulataneously protecting the HUMANS who play it…WTF is the problem because they look goofy.
OK let the torrent of libtard, wuss, bleeding heart begin. I accept them. YES I do care about the health of people besides MYSELF!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 10:28 am
BTW Before you go crazy….Goeddeke would not be playing for the Bucs or anybody for very long without the Guardian.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:29 am
I actually agree with the NFL on this….make it mandatory during TC and optional in reg season….
anyone seen “HIM”?…LOL….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 10:35 am
Maybe they should wear short shorts to be more visually appealing to help balance things out. Would that help? Go Bowles!
September 24th, 2025 at 10:42 am
DYK: DOCTORS USED REMOVE BLOOD FROM YOUR BODY TO REMOVE DISEASE
It was called “bloodletting.” Now we know that’s the dumbest thing ever, right? White blood cells, blood, etc. All good things.
The point is hanging onto old idiologies in the face of actual medical knowledge isn’t a good idea. Preventing CTEs is more important than appearance.
FASHION VS HEALTH SAFETY
1. Goedeke was out for an entire month with a concussion. A month from a brain injury! If you only care about W-L, you probably want to keep starters on the field.
2. Luke Kuechly’s career ended due to a concussion. Our own Cameron Brate, Harvard Grad, was forced to retire after multiple concussions.
3. Vincent Jackson (an article Joe wrote this week), Junior Seau, Jovan Belcher committed some form of suicide from the trauma of CTEs.
Turns out your brain is a pretty big deal.
Your brain doesn’t heal like the rest of your body. There is no known cure for CTE. Entertaining us every Sunday shouldn’t come as a result of irreversible brain damage.
LOOK STUPID – BE SMART – WEAR THE GUARDIAN CAP
September 24th, 2025 at 10:58 am
SlyPirate
“LOOK STUPID – BE SMART – WEAR THE GUARDIAN CAP”
Great conclusion, great advice.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:58 am
I agree with David as someone with linebacker experience – you can tell a lot by the sound of a tackle. If you get a wrong-sounding thud instead of a sharp “WHACK!” you know something was off, maybe the angle.
The one sound I WISH could have been muffled out back in late 70’s/early 80’s? The sharp crack of helmet-to-helmet at speed. Those hurt – the neck, head, and ears, LOL.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Safe bet that when the NFL replaced leather caps with hard helmets in 1943, plenty of fans screamed that the new headgear looked ridiculous, and it probably did. And yet, somehow, we all survived.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:23 am
SlyPirate
“LOOK STUPID – BE SMART – WEAR THE GUARDIAN CAP”
One of the best slogans I’ve read in a while. The NFL should adopt this.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:34 am
Lavonte gives Aqualung the warms.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:48 am
I get the logic. But they do look ridiculous. Makes the helmet look like a rotting grape.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:57 am
That entire interview was great! I love that BA is on the show every Tuesday as we are bound to get Bucs content every week on the show! BA is a gem and helped change our culture after the “Lost Decade”!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Not a big fan of tackling this year either. My favorite player in defense since he’s been here but whoa he is missing a lot of tackles this season.
September 24th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Raging – what the coach does is talk about tackling. But doesn’t coach it up or teach it. Gotta focus on where that foot is in relation to the gas pedal, so it’s in the proper position for the 4th quarter.
September 24th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
I thought this was in reference to the Cleveland Indians (my favorite baseball team) change to Guardians (BLEH!)…. I was like, oh man, Lavonte speaking out… but alas.
September 24th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Looks like the cap has the same padding as the inside of the helmet, which I believe they can fill with air to control the fit, comfort? Maybe it’s a soft gel on the inside now, don’t know but you could clack helmet to helmet and have your ear’s ringing. That’s why they outlawed Deacons head slap. Talked to him about that one time, man was he funny.
September 24th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Well, the sound of a whiff is silent. Just kidding 😂 Nothing but love for LVD!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
I am for the Guardian Caps. Maybe they should have some type of electronic chip inside the helmets that detects a concussion without them and with them. I had read awhile back, and the data could have changed, that the more players that wear the caps the percentages of getting a concussion are smaller. The more around you wearing them, it lessens the vulnerability. Makes sense.
September 24th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
With all the $$$dough$$$ the NFL and its ownership make, they can correct what LVD is complaining about. Just this week, another former NFL player died way too young from brain injuries sustained by head hits. It’s ridiculous. I remember being blown away when Junior Seau committed suicide over it. That was quite a few years ago. With the money they make in a few short years and they invest it wisely, where’s the sense in being in so much pain they kill themselves? Before they can enjoy it. Answer me that!
September 24th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
I think at this point we all hate how “soft“ some of the NFL calls are, but we understand it. A defenseless receiver, or quarterback, targeting up near the head… I completely get it.
I had two concussions from playing football back in the day. One in high school, one in college. Another landing on my face while taking a jump skiing. 😂
It’s amazing Troy Aikman is as good as he is on TV because that man had about 10 concussions.
Unfortunately, no matter what they do to the helmet, there are limits. It’s not about the impact of the skull. It’s about the sudden stop while inside the brain still moves and slams into the inside of the skull.
Tthey’ll never be able to fully protect against that.
September 24th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
On a sidenote… JOE… Love the Great Gazoo reference. There’s a flashback!
September 24th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
If Ali Marpet had the guardian cap he still might be playing today.
September 24th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
SlyPirate
Add former Bengals running back Rudi Johnson to that list.
He died this past week at 45 yo
According to reports, he had been struggling with mental issues associated with CTE for awhile.
September 24th, 2025 at 7:52 pm
Reminds me of Toad from Mario