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Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:08 am EDT

Air-conditioned pads are becoming all the rage

By MJD

Planning on taking your team to south Florida in September for a hotly-contested Monday night game? Planning on leaving your defense on the field for over 45 minutes?

Then might I suggest the new Temperature Management System, which blows cool, refreshing air through your pads in the precious time you do get to spend on the bench?

CNBC's Darren Rovell tells us all about the new system, which is currently being used in the NFL by the Dolphins, Colts, Cowboys, Rams and Cardinals. Billy Bates, a former defensive back with the Cowboys, is part-owner of the company that makes the system, and he says it helps in reducing heat-related illnesses, prevents players from needing IVs, and keeps teams fresher in the fourth quarter.

Come to think of it, I do recall Dwight Freeney(notes) being praised for his stamina in the fourth quarter of the Monday night game. I don't know if Freeney was one of the guys using the TMS, or if he was, how much it helped him, but he definitely looked fresh (in the well-rested, ready-to-play sense, not the Will Smith(notes), prince of Bel-Air sense) at the end of the game.

I think it sounds positively delightful. I'm thinking about getting a set. I might look strange walking around in a full set of NFL pads, but if it keeps me from sweating buckets on a hot summer day, I'm all for it.

My guess is that it won't take long for these things to become standard on NFL sidelines.

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42 Comments

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  1. The Tuna
    1. Posted by The Tuna Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:43 am EDT

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    first! and air conditioned jock straps are next
  2. The ATM
    2. Posted by The ATM Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:23 am EDT

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    second! so thats what p crayton was wearing!
  3. BOOMBOOM
    3. Posted by BOOMBOOM Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:28 am EDT

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    i recall these 2 years back or so. arnt they the ones with tubing in them and they attach a tube filled with cold air and it circulates thru the pads?
  4. BOOMBOOM
    4. Posted by BOOMBOOM Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:28 am EDT

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    i recall these 2 years back or so. arnt they the ones with tubing in them and they attach a tube filled with cold air and it circulates thru the pads?
  5. Daniel H
    5. Posted by Daniel H Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:32 am EDT

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    These could be great but I bet they are going to be way to expensive to start seeing them at the college level, especially for your mid to lower level schools.
  6. Max_Powers
    6. Posted by Max_Powers Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:18 am EDT

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    Coming to the northern teams: Same system, warm air.
  7. Scott E
    7. Posted by Scott E Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:21 am EDT

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    We continue to march to the point where the video game is more realistic than the actual game - or at least reach convergence.
    Question: If the system is available to one team on the sidelines and not the other is this not an infraction of the rules regarding bench/sideline provisions in the NFL? Is the home team obligated to provide power/space, etc. to allow a visiting team to use this system?
    I'm all for preventing injuries and heat stroke, but at some point you still have to go out there and be a man and hit someone...geeez!
  8. Turtle
    8. Posted by Turtle Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:24 am EDT

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    Now all somebody needs to come up with is air conditioned seats for the fans.
  9. enr p
    9. Posted by enr p Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:27 am EDT

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    Dolphins had them and the Colts Defense too. Their offense (colts) was very efficient and precise. Kudos for them!
  10. enr p
    10. Posted by enr p Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:28 am EDT

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    Dolphins had them and the Colts Defense too. Their offense (colts) was very efficient and precise. Kudos for them!
  11. Robert C
    11. Posted by Robert C Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:31 am EDT

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    What's next? A steel cage surrounding the QB?
    Dealing with the elements is part of football. Having air conditioned pads seems to take away from the toughness factor.
    Plus we will hear a new excuse for poor play. "My A/C went out"
  12. Jay M
    12. Posted by Jay M Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:43 am EDT

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    Just to be clear
    Dwight Freeney is also FRESH like in the Fresh Prince sense..
  13. FairlyHonestBob
    13. Posted by FairlyHonestBob Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:10 pm EDT

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    Time outs for a malfunctioning cup blower?
  14. Peter
    14. Posted by Peter Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:22 pm EDT

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    Where there is repeated smoke there is fire. In the same season, this is the second allegation of player tampering against the Jets on a high impact disgruntle receiver, both Brandon Marshall and Michael Crabtree. It is highly unlikely that both Denver and the 49ers organizations are arbitrarily seeking out and just picking on the Jets. The pattern of behavior will be audited and dealt with by the league accordingly. Sadly, it's more than likely that the Jets tampering allegations will drag out and distract from the teams winning accomplishments this season. The Jets organization needs to wise up!
  15. Peter
    15. Posted by Peter Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:22 pm EDT

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    Where there is repeated smoke there is fire. In the same season, this is the second allegation of player tampering against the Jets on a high impact disgruntle receiver, both Brandon Marshall and Michael Crabtree. It is highly unlikely that both Denver and the 49ers organizations are arbitrarily seeking out and just picking on the Jets. The pattern of behavior will be audited and dealt with by the league accordingly. Sadly, it's more than likely that the Jets tampering allegations will drag out and distract from the teams winning accomplishments this season. The Jets organization needs to wise up!
  16. Peter
    16. Posted by Peter Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:22 pm EDT

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    Where there is repeated smoke there is fire. In the same season, this is the second allegation of player tampering against the Jets on a high impact disgruntle receiver, both Brandon Marshall and Michael Crabtree. It is highly unlikely that both Denver and the 49ers organizations are arbitrarily seeking out and just picking on the Jets. The pattern of behavior will be audited and dealt with by the league accordingly. Sadly, it's more than likely that the Jets tampering allegations will drag out and distract from the teams winning accomplishments this season. The Jets organization needs to wise up!
  17. Scott E
    17. Posted by Scott E Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:48 pm EDT

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    Peter - excellent comment. Wrong blog. Nice though.
  18. rintintinsoldier
    18. Posted by rintintinsoldier Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

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    Freeney didn't play all of the 85 or so snaps that Miami ran. The announcers, typically, made a comment about how fresh Freeney looked, when during the game, every other time the camera panned in on him, he was on the sidelines when Miami had the ball.
    Any Colt lineman who actually would have played all 85 snaps would have been crawling on their hands and knees at the end of the game.
  19. Zaphod
    19. Posted by Zaphod Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    if it helps my team the colts then lets air it out
  20. the 48
    20. Posted by the 48 Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    RETARDS!!!!!
    Click POST COMMENT ONCE!!!
    Nobody wants to read your multiple posts! They mostly suck anyway!
  21. iam_focusedman
    21. Posted by iam_focusedman Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:26 pm EDT

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    loved the Fresh Prince reference MJD
  22. rbdal34
    22. Posted by rbdal34 Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:44 pm EDT

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    I liked that you brought this to our attention MJD, I don't really like your comments because they're a bit boring and unfunny...please just bring us odd interesting NFL news, that's what you're good at.
  23. rbdal34
    23. Posted by rbdal34 Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:44 pm EDT

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    I liked that you brought this to our attention MJD, I don't really like your comments because they're a bit boring and unfunny...please just bring us odd interesting NFL news, that's what you're good at.
  24. souless
    24. Posted by souless Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:01 pm EDT

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    Repetition works Stanley-Steamer

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