49ers are officially changing unis next season

[Saintsfan 21]

Perhaps. But you're talking about a quantum change in equipment, equivalent to the switch between leather and plastic helmets. Those things happen very, very rarely.

I don't see sleeve length being in that category - I see it as more like the difference between an early 2000s hockey sweater and RBK's "6% less friction!" EDGE. It's a matter of degree.

Which means that the real difference is all in their heads, which doesn't mean that it can't make a difference - after all, wearing the same unwashed pair of lucky socks can make a difference to some players as well - it just means that the difference is unquantifiable, unattributable and ultimately unreliable. Just like lucky socks.

Without wholly disagreeing I would say that the fact that most NFL players sport the shortened sleeves suggests that they have some level of playing advantage.

[Gothamite 24,648]

To which I would submit the fact that most MLB players wear their pants long, scraping the ground.

Fashion is fashion.

[IceCap 22,605]

The difference being that I prefer the long the pants look in baseball, but despise the short sleeve look in football

I'm with Goth though. The length of the sleeves provides purely a psychological edge.

[pcgd 272]

Do you guys base this on playing football? Just curious...

[Gothamite 24,648]

Yes, we're all pro athletes.

Wait, you're not?

[andrewharrington 4,991]

I've long wished for the NFL to go back to 3/4 length sleeves, but make them tighter than they were in the past. This type of sleeve allows for the same tighter fit, and with today's advanced textiles, the same ventilation and moisture management properties that we've come to expect. It offers improved functionality by not allowing people to hook the pads as easily, and in addition, offers more protection for the upper arms and elbows (nice for rough turf or frozen tundra). As far as I'm concerned, this is also the best looking style in the history of the game, allowing for those generous sleeve stripes.

[Gothamite 24,648]

No reason that they couldn't do just that with the new jersey templates.

[pcgd 272]

Yes, we're all pro athletes.

Wait, you're not?

No I'm asking if you've played football at a competitive level. Generally those that have want the tight rolled up sleeves. People keep saying its purely for the look of tight sleeves or to show off the arms, but I'm wondering if those people played football or not. That's all. You don't have to be a pro player to comment on designs or anything, but to say that its purely for the look I'd think you'd have to play a bit to know that for sure.

[BBTV 21,013]

Yes, we're all pro athletes.

Wait, you're not?

No I'm asking if you've played football at a competitive level. Generally those that have want the tight rolled up sleeves. People keep saying its purely for the look of tight sleeves or to show off the arms, but I'm wondering if those people played football or not. That's all. You don't have to be a pro player to comment on designs or anything, but to say that its purely for the look I'd think you'd have to play a bit to know that for sure.

When I played in HS (92, 93, 94) we were all ecstatic when we got "pro style" jerseys my senior year, because the sleeves were shorter, and had elastic cuffs so they could be tucked up. Prior to that, we had really old fashioned jerseys with wide mesh fronts and tight mesh sleeves that went down near the elbow. Some people cut them off with scissors (and then got charged!).

[oldschoolvikings 18,563]

Yes, we're all pro athletes.

Wait, you're not?

No I'm asking if you've played football at a competitive level. Generally those that have want the tight rolled up sleeves. People keep saying its purely for the look of tight sleeves or to show off the arms, but I'm wondering if those people played football or not. That's all. You don't have to be a pro player to comment on designs or anything, but to say that its purely for the look I'd think you'd have to play a bit to know that for sure.

When I played in HS (92, 93, 94) we were all ecstatic when we got "pro style" jerseys my senior year, because the sleeves were shorter, and had elastic cuffs so they could be tucked up. Prior to that, we had really old fashioned jerseys with wide mesh fronts and tight mesh sleeves that went down near the elbow. Some people cut them off with scissors (and then got charged!).

Yeah, and when I played ten years before that, no one gave much thought at all to sleeve length. So the question isn't IF you played football, but WHEN.

[BBTV 21,013]

Yes, we're all pro athletes.

Wait, you're not?

No I'm asking if you've played football at a competitive level. Generally those that have want the tight rolled up sleeves. People keep saying its purely for the look of tight sleeves or to show off the arms, but I'm wondering if those people played football or not. That's all. You don't have to be a pro player to comment on designs or anything, but to say that its purely for the look I'd think you'd have to play a bit to know that for sure.

When I played in HS (92, 93, 94) we were all ecstatic when we got "pro style" jerseys my senior year, because the sleeves were shorter, and had elastic cuffs so they could be tucked up. Prior to that, we had really old fashioned jerseys with wide mesh fronts and tight mesh sleeves that went down near the elbow. Some people cut them off with scissors (and then got charged!).

Yeah, and when I played ten years before that, no one gave much thought at all to sleeve length. So the question isn't IF you played football, but WHEN.

Maybe no one gave much thought about it because there were no other options at the time. People just accepted that the football uniform was what it was, wasn't going to change, and was "as good as it's gonna' get."

[Gothamite 24,648]

Or maybe people hadn't thought about it because the cap sleeves hadn't yet become fashionable.

[FiddySicks 11,369]

Back when I played football I noticed that during practice, when I was wearing a tight sleeveless jersey, I was held MUCH more than when I was wearing a still tight, but not as tight jersey with sleeves that capped around the bicep. Reason being, as Gotham said, there is much less to grab on to when you have sleeves. Sure the jersey can be grabbed, but it's not as easy to hang on to as a shoulder pad. As a former O lineman, I loved running against a guy with no sleeves because it usually meant that I could grab the shoulder pad in the front, and not only was it difficult for the ref to see, in many cases the ref couldn't call it holding anyway.

But all of this would be taken care of if Americans would just play a real contact sport, like rugby

[oldschoolvikings 18,563]

Or maybe people hadn't thought about it because the cap sleeves hadn't yet become fashionable.

I remember when I first noticed the extra short sleeves showing up. It was the mid-80's and a lot of the Bears were tucking the sleeves up under their pads. Including that silly looking toad faced kicker they had. Hmm... now why would a kicker need to show off his (sad) guns? Maybe because it had suddenly become fashionable?

[RichardWitham 210]

back on tooic, i just got my 49ers customized replica today, and i made a comparison pic on my cameraphone

here it is: http://tinyurl.com/49ersjerseycomparison

[BBTV 21,013]

back on tooic, i just got my 49ers customized replica today, and i made a comparison pic on my cameraphone

here it is: http://tinyurl.com/49ersjerseycomparison

Left < Right

[cappital92 46]

Is it just me, or are the numbers on the new jersey a lot bigger then the old one? Maybe if they were the same size, then I wouldn't have minded the outline and shadowing on the old one. I always thought that made the jersey look a little too muddled.

[rtrich11 72]

I've long wished for the NFL to go back to 3/4 length sleeves, but make them tighter than they were in the past. This type of sleeve allows for the same tighter fit, and with today's advanced textiles, the same ventilation and moisture management properties that we've come to expect. It offers improved functionality by not allowing people to hook the pads as easily, and in addition, offers more protection for the upper arms and elbows (nice for rough turf or frozen tundra). As far as I'm concerned, this is also the best looking style in the history of the game, allowing for those generous sleeve stripes.

I would love to see a mock up of your idea. Photoshoppers...!

[IceCap 22,605]

Do you guys base this on playing football? Just curious...

Not football, but I have played hockey, using both regular sweaters and Edge/Swift style sweaters. The difference is all psychological, really.

Whether or not that's the same thing for smaller/tighter football sleeves is a different story, but I can say from personal experience that the "6% less drag/sleeker uniform" advantage is pretty much a psychological one.

[FiddySicks 11,369]

So the 49ers are playing the Broncos tonight, their first game in the new unis. At the unveiling I was cautiously happy with what they came out with, but seeing them on the field really changed my mind. They're an absolute mess. The black outline in the logo looks COMPLETELY out of place now, and the shades of gold in the pants and helmets are WAY off, and the stripes look absolutely ridiculous. They went from having a very nice and clean (a bit uninspiring, yes, but that could've been easily fixed) look to a really bad one. MAJOR downgrade. And the worst part is they're really close to looking good, a few minor adjustments could save this set.