We learned one surprise in Sunday's New Orleans Saints game with the Detroit Lions. More Saints players are wearing the NFL-approved Guardian caps into the regular season, aimed at protecting against head injury -- a group that now includes defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd, rookie wide receiver Barion Brown, and his veteran counterpart Chris Olave, whose history of concussions was addressed with a clause written into his new $124 million contract. After Sunday's game, Olave spoke about his decision to opt in for added protection.
"I know all the head injuries I done had in my career. So it was just a decision I had made that, shoot, I got kids now. I want to be able to live the long game. It's not all about football. So, I want to live a regular
life after I'm done with football. I love my kids to death. So, I don't really care how it looks no more. I just got to throw it on and, shoot, it did me good today. For sure," Olave grinned.
As we mentioned, Olave's contract could void his remaining salary guarantees due to concussions, which are considered a preexisting condition. Plenty of fans have called for him to wear the padded Guardian cap in games as well as practices, even last season. But Olave wants it known this was a choice he made himself.
"It was really my decision to be honest," Olave added. "Nobody really told me to wear it, but it was, it was one play in practice where we had a deep ball and I had the Guardian cap on and I kind of hit my head kind of hard, but it was, it was a good situation to be in. Guardian cap kind of saved me. But from that point forward, I said I was going to wear the Guardian cap in the game and that's what happened."
We'll see if more players join them as the season rolls on. Rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller used a Guardian cap throughout the preseason games but didn't wear it into Week 1's matchup with Detroit. Maybe he's changed his mind. Either way, it's good to see more guys taking their health and the hazards of their profession so seriously.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Chris Olave among more Saints players wearing Guardian caps into games
