FBI Investigates Schutt's Helmet Refurbishing Company

Pennsylvania-based helmet refurbishing company Circle System is under FBI investigation after distributing over 200,000 used football helmets to athletes "ranging from 8-year-olds to Division I collegians" without properly testing the headgear, according to Alan Schwarz of the N.Y. TIMES.  Circle, purchased by helmet manufacturer Schutt Sports in '05, is the second-largest helmet-reconditioning company in the U.S., refurbishing an estimated 300,000 helmets a year. Schutt officials say the "actions under investigation had been committed by inherited employees who are no longer with the company, but declined to say whether they were fired."  Experts said that "although there was no way to be sure if any player had been injured while wearing one of the helmets in question, they said they doubted a widespread safety concern existed." Schutt CEO Robert Erb said the company is trying to "clean up Circle System and put it under the auspices of Schutt Reconditioning so people know it's certified, it's professional and represents a higher standard in the marketplace" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/12).