So What Was That Bulletproof Vest NFL Star Tony Romo Was Wearing During Monday’s Game?
- Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:07am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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You may have caught some of the on-air testing ESPN and the other local networks did last night to show off the Kevlar vest Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was wearing Monday night to protect his broken rib. And if you did, it was a treat.
See, Romo was sporting the fancy vest that is a product of Unequal Technologies. And last night, the company’s president, Robert Vito, decided to let a couple test his product on him — with a shovel:
So just what was the vest made of? According to the company’s website, it’s a mix of padding and ballistics-grade Kevlar, meaning it’s a high-quality “shock-suppression” system. That has led the company to a niche — bulletproof sports equipment, including insoles and the aforementioned vest. Vito explained how the material works to CNBC last spring:
A marketing video shows off the materials strength (as if the shovel video didn’t already do it):
But Romo isn‘t the only sports star wearing Vito’s vest. The company also protects Eagles quarterback Michael Vick by providing padding for his ribs and his head.
“Romo had a very serious injury and the Cowboys started asking around about what we had done for Michael Vick and for the Steelers in the Super Bowl,” Vito told ESPN. “What we have is military-grade equipment adopted to sports. If it can stop a bullet, it can stop a blitz.”
And it seems to have worked. The Cowboys beat the Redskins on Monday night. And even though Romo got knocked around — and even grimaced — he still finished the game.
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SFsuper49er
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:25pmThat’s stupid…..Here is a challenge….. Try to get through one day… Without somebody trying to sell you something… I bet you can’t do it…… From a Person, sign or Commercial . If they can’t do it personality they put it in your face… I think they have added two more commercials per show now… A 30 minute show is really 15 minutes now….
Report Post »waymoregooder
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:41pm…and that is what America is all about. Someone selling and someone buying. I think it’s a great company that will be able to provide ballistic protection for our military and police.
Report Post »Great job!
By the way, this isn’t a government created product – good old fashioned capitalism at it’s best!
lionslayer44
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:48pmbert jones of the colts was wearing a flack jacket in the 70′s when he had broken ribs. this is not new its just gotten better and lighter since then. on the other hand why does anyone watch these over paid cry babies anymore. i played football 9 years up to j.c. and stopped watching years ago. these guys dont tackle anymore they bump they run out of bounds instead of trying to get that extra yard, then they whine that they need millions in case they get hurt. most of them went to college on scholarships and left early without their education, so what happens if they get hurt? well GET A JOB LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!!!!! BE PREPARED COLLECT, FOOD, WATER (FILTERS), AMMO!!!
Report Post »Farmer John
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:38pmVick complained the refs aren’t protecting him. If I was a ref I would let the defense cream the SOB. That dog murdering bastard can rot as far as I’m concerned. I’ll never watch the Eagles again.
Report Post »Master_and_Commander
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 3:43pmgeez everybody, no need to get all offended and wound up over Romo wearing a little extra armor… its getting a bit ridiculous
Report Post »Gugstr
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:45pmHow about “adapted from sports” instead of adopted.?
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:58pmOkay, this is getting ridiculous.. I am a former rugby player.. Football players need to quit being pansies and suck it up… PAIN is part of the reason their salaries are so high (that and we let the fools make millions off of playing a game…) I would love to see some NFL players drop the pads and step on a rugby pitch… They would quickly learn the difference between being coddled (like they are) and what it means to EARN their pay…
I can understand this for hockey… I played Ice hockey in the past for a few seasons, and this could really be nice for that.. (taking a slapshot to the shin or chest would be nasty without good pads…) I wonder how lightweight the final product is (could be great for Goalies)..
But this is un-necessary for football…
Report Post »black9897
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 2:17pm@ OniKaze Well, while some of them may be babies, most aren’t. You have to understand that since they have pads and helmets they hit each other MUCH harder than you would playing rugby. So it’s wise to protect themselves in the best way possible. I’ve played full on tackle football without pads many times with guys 4x my size and while we hit each other hard, we would never hit each other like they do in the NFL….and if anyone without pads hits like they do in the NFL then you’re a moron and are asking for serious injuries.
Report Post »black9897
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 2:24pmSo no. This is one of the best sports to have this technology used in.
Report Post »Wayner
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:05pmYeah, yeah, yeah Onikaze…. You are really a tough guy…… but how many 6′7 350 guys ever hit you in rugby?
Report Post »Taxed and Accused
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:17pmI just watched the USA play Ireland in the Rugby World Cup. It is very rare that we get to see it on T.V. I saw some of the hardest hits. The NFL players would not hold up. To SOFT.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:41pmYeah, I heard the same thing when I was in Australia. They don’t understand, as I had played football, you are literally a missile coming at a person. Chis Hoke of the Steelers is a friend of mine and we play basketball together. When he boxed me out with his arse, noo kidding, it was a rock. You would think, 6 2 325, there would fat at least there, but no sir. These men are beasts. I Could only imagine one coming at you with equipment on, forget about it.
Report Post »goatrope67
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:48amHockey season starts soon…
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:22pmYup. I am a football fan first and foremost but I really enjoy the NHL. I am learning more each season. I look forward to the new one starting. Go Stars
Report Post »hi
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:39amMy son wears the basketball padding underneath his jersey. It works like magic when he gets elbowed all day long in a game! I would have him try this one. It’s probably lighter.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:37amLast nights game was a ton of fun. This morning I walk with a heavy head. “Go Buccaneers!”
Report Post »SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:03amWhy don‘t we let the QB’s cruise around the field in an armoured tank with a sun roof to pop up from time to time to throw a bomb down the field?
Report Post »hi
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:36amHa ha! That’s funny!!
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:51amMaybe the rest of the team should wear one in case they get hit with a bullet pass (ugh)
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:26amThe increased incidents of concussion are a direct result of such improvements in equipment over the past decade. Let’s see players lead with their head without their high tech body armor…wouldn’t happen.
I would love to know the concussion rate in rugby and Australian rules compared with the NFL.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:50amI can see Vick wearing it for his ribs but it is probably wasted for his head. I’m not sure he has anything up there to protect.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:55amOh, I’m sure it requires a lot of brain power to run a dog fighting ring.
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:26pmI sort of agree. Australian rules is tough and rough and all that but….There is no comparison to the size and speed of the men in the NFL. None. You can try to say there is and that they are tougher because they dont wear pads et al, but you would be reaching to say the least. There are dozens if not hundreds of men in the NFL that are over 6′4″ and weigh in excess of 300 #s that can run a 4.6-40 and bench press 500lbs. No comparison.
If you really want to limit the helmet hits etc…take away the face mask. It stops that day, period.
Report Post »aaronkcmo
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:23amJust because it‘s ’armor‘ and contains ’kevlar‘ does not mean it’s bulletproof. They put kevlar in my lawnmower belt, does that mean it’s bulletproof?
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:31amAARONKCMO…….
Report Post »Correct!
There is and has been tremendous protective clothing for motorcyclists for years and years. Lots of the gear is Kevlar, but there are many other products, as well. It is abrasion-resistant and, very, very tough, but I don‘t believe I’ve ever seen any advertised as bullett-proof.
aggiebrewer
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:27pmBuahahahaha!
I thought the same thing. My handlebars are Kevlar on my road bike…
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:13am.
Report Post »What good is all this protective equipment, if your gonna fine a player $50k for trying to see if it works?………