On Monday, Antonio Brown got a shot to the gut when an arbitrator denied his grievance to wear a special style helmet that he had been wearing since his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As it turns out, Antonio Brown has a potential loophole still use the helmet that he prefers.
The Schutt AiR Advantage is what he wants to use, but he can’t use it as the helmet is more than 10 years old. If Brown wants to use that same style helmet, he has to find one that is less than 10 years old, according to PFT.
“A PFT reader communicated directly with the NOCSAE on this subject, and Executive Director/General Counsel Michael Oliver has confirmed to PFT via email that, indeed, the NOCSAE continues to recertify Schutt AiR Advantage helmets that are less than 10 years old.
The NFL did not directly address the question of whether Brown would be permitted to use a Schutt AiR Advantage that is less than 10 years old. In response to that specific inquiry, the NFL forwarded to PFT a graphic containing the 11 helmet models that became prohibited as of 2019; the Schutt AiR Advantage is not on the list. The graphic also includes a lengthy list of preferred helmets, but it does not say that these are the only approved helmets.
So, apparently, if Brown can find a Schutt AiR Advantage in his size that was made in or after 2019, he could get that specific helmet certfied and use it this year. Because the Schutt AiR Advantage was discontinued in 2011, he has only a narrow window before it will be impossible to recertifiy any versions of the Schutt AiR Advantage.”
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After the news came down, Brown would soon take to social media and confirm that he wasn’t retiring as he threatened to do if he wasn’t allowed to wear the helmet that he wanted.
The Oakland Raiders are certainly ready to put this issue to bed and get Brown healthy and into camp as the 2019 season looms near.
