Keep the pain to a minimum with protective football gear

September 30, 2009

In the following video, All-Pro NFL linebacker/wrecking ball Ray Lewis demonstrates how important it is to wear extra protective gear when playing football.

A fun hit to watch, but not a fun one to take. That’s why Football America offers a wide selection of additional protective gear, for those times when you have to make a high catch over the middle or you hit the hole just to find yourself in the crosshairs of a speeding linebacker.

It happens sometimes, and when it does, take the steps necessary to keep yourself from getting hurt.

Football neck rollStarting from the top: the neck roll. Neck rolls help to prevent whiplash and compaction injuries by limiting the range of motion on the neck.

The back of your helmet comes into contact with the roll, which keeps the helmet from going too far backwards and too far inwards.

Moving downward: shoulder shock pads. For positions that usually take a pounding on the shoulders (running backs, wide receivers, linebackers), these pads add an extra layer of protection to the shoulders. It takes the sting out of some particularly hard hits and protects against collarbone injuries.

For players that are more likely to be hit in the back (quarterbacks, running backs), it’s important to wear a back plate.

Players likely to take hits in the ribs (wide receivers, tight ends) are encouraged to wear rib protectors. Much like back plates, these pads extend around the rib areas that are usually exposed while wearing a normal set of shoulder pads.

Hexpad padded shirtFor even more upper body protection, consider getting a padded undershirt.

We also carry protective arm sleeves, in an array of designs and sizes.

These are for everything from preventing the bumps and bruises that come from doing battle in the trenches (linemen) and keeping your elbow healthy while being tackled (running backs).

Finally, keep your hips and thighs safe with a protective girdle. These pads are very important, especially when dealing with low tackles.

Related: View our entire selection of protective football gear.

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Upsets galore in college football this past weekend

September 29, 2009

College football’s top 25 got a heavy makeover this past weekend, thanks to a slew of big upsets.

Four teams in the top 10 lost, including Nos. 4, 5 and 6. Three others also fell out of the top 25 rankings in a weekend chock full of big victories.

Miami Hurricanes CapIt all started on Thursday, when unranked South Carolina defeated No. 4 Ole Miss.

On Saturday, fifth-ranked Penn State lost at home to Iowa, and Oregon stomped No. 6 Cal (not as competitive as we thought it was going to be).

Eleventh-ranked Virginia Tech handed No. 9 Miami a setback on its return to prominence, and Florida State, North Carolina and Washington all lost.

The result of the topsy-turvy weekend was a vastly different looking top 25 this week.

The top three remained the same. Florida held on to the No. 1 spot, running roughshod over an overmatched Kentucky team. The Gators got a scare late in the game, though, as Heisman-winning quarterback Tim Tebow had to be assisted off the field after suffering a concussion.

LSU Tigers ShirtFlorida has a bye week before returning to action against new No. 4 LSU in two weeks.

Texas remained at No. 2 after rolling past UTEP, and third-ranked Alabama cruised in a rout of Arkansas.

The South now dominates the nation’s top rankings.

Three of the top four teams in the country hail from the SEC (Florida, Alabama, LSU) and the other team is from deep in the heart of Texas.

Boise State, from way up in Idaho, is ranked No. 5.

Related: See our entire selection of college football fan apparel.

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Deal of the Week: Save 10% off any order over $100

September 28, 2009

Like our hero DeMarcus Ware, Baseball Express just keeps cranking out the hits.

Our new deal of the week begins today, and this one is another winner. We’re offering 10 percent off any order over $100 on our site from now through Friday, Oct. 2.

Enter the coupon code JGEADJ9 at checkout to take advantage of the offer.

We’re not exactly math whizzes over here, but after doing some calculations (and checking our math twice), we’ve discovered that this coupon code is worth $10 at the very least. Get 200 bucks worth of gear, and this coupon code will be worth $20.

Buy $1,000 worth of gear (and we hope you will!), and you can save $100 off the total price.

Again, this deal is only good through Friday, so take advantage of it over at Football America.

Related: Get access to even more deals by joining our football rewards club.

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Seven college football games to watch this weekend

September 25, 2009

The college football season rolls onward this weekend as several teams play their first in-conference games.

It begins tonight as Missouri travels to Nevada in a non-conference matchup.

Michigan State SpartansThe Tigers, the first team out in the AP Top 25, are looking to prove they still belong in the national picture after losing stars Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. (Central) tonight on ESPN.

Indiana and No. 23 Michigan kick off Saturday’s slate of games with a Big Ten clash at 11 a.m. on ESPN2. Michigan State and Wisconsin face off at the same time on ESPN.

Alabama Crimson TideThe SEC and Pac-10 get started at 2:30 p.m. as Arkansas travels to No. 3 Alabama (CBS) and No. 6 Cal visits Oregon (ABC).

Depending on your region, one game will obviously be more attractive than the other. We figure the Cal-Oregon game will be the most competitive.

ABC wraps up its football coverage on Saturday as Iowa travels to No. 5 Penn State in yet another Big Ten matchup.

Those of us in the Lone Star State may have some interest in the 8:15 p.m. clash between Texas Tech and Houston on ESPN2.

The Raiders hung tough with the Longhorns last week, and Houston made waves a few weeks ago when it exposed then-No. 5 Oklahoma State.

Related: Check out our entire selection of fan apparel.

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