Robots are invading NFL training camps

10:34 AM ET

Robots are invading NFL training camps.

Actually, they are the love children of robots and tackling dummies, and they are not technological fads.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens have placed an order for a batch of Mobile Virtual Players for their camps later this month, according to MVP president John Currier. That’s about $8,000 per robot, which weighs between 160-180 pounds, runs a 5-second 40-yard dash and cuts in the open field.

In May, the Steelers showcased their experiment with the MVPs on their web site, while the rival Ravens tested theirs in secret. The Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears also have inquired about using them in the future.

What started as an experiment at Dartmouth College football practices to promote safe tackling is now a full-fledged business that is penetrating the highest levels of football.

The NFL’s flirtation with technology can be fickle. Remember the drone experiment? Exactly.

This seems different, though. At the least, teams see functionality and the chance to rest players.

“They have a future,’ said one NFL assistant coach whose team has tested the robots “A few kinks to be worked out, but you can find ways to make them work for you.”

To separate gimmick from game-changer, let’s dive into some questions about the robots and their viability at the NFL level. For guidance, we consulted the people from the ‘MVP’ company and a few NFL observers who have tested the product.

So, what is it exactly?

The MVP is a tackling dummy made of foam rubber that’s controlled by a remote, which teams can operate. The engine, built into the base of the dummy, is protected by a cushion. It runs on two small, skateboard-like wheels. The dummies’ birthplace is the Dartmouth campus in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens and former player Elliot Kastner were the catalysts for developing the technology. Now, the dummies are manufactured at Rogers Athletic in Farwell, Mich., transported by truck to your NFL doorstep, usually two or three at a time.

Improving tackling techniques to help reduce the risk of brain injury …

continue reading in source espn.go.com