History of the "neck roll"

[Evan]

Anybody know the history of the “neck roll”. I’m making up that term for it, so correct me if there’s an official name. I’m talking about the white tubular pad that would go around a player’s neck.

Typically it was worn by linebackers (I can’t really picture Jack Lambert without it), and fullbacks, occasionally halfbacks, maybe strong safeties too. I thought it was a cool look, sort of girding a player for a huge collision. The one huge exception to its coolness was when quarterbacks wore it. Steve Grogan and Tommy Kramer wore it late in their careers, and it make them look like they were in traction or something – just awful.

So, a few questions:

What exactly was the “neck roll” designed to do? Was it to stop a helmet from snapping back, thus protecting the neck? If so, did it really serve that purpose?

Did you personally like the aesthetic look of it?

Was there a first and last player to wear it?

Has it been discontinued? I haven’t noticed it in a while, but perhaps I’ve just missed it.

Thanks!

[Mark L. Ford]

Interesting questions-- and, it turns out, it is indeed called the neck roll. Here's one discussion on the subject at footballguys.com http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/in ... pic=627615

and here's the article i nthe New York Times someone mentioned in that convo
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/sport ... .html?_r=0

[rhickok1109]

I remember Paul Hornung wearing one because of the pinched nerve in his neck that kept him out of Super Bowl I and forced his retirement.