Rawlings is "cutting short its gridiron comeback" five years after it "jumped back into the football helmet business," according to Lisa Brown of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The company confirmed that it is "ending production of its football helmets and football shoulder pads this year." Rawlings announced the launch in '10 and began selling football helmets in '11. Its football helmets "worn by youth, high school and professional players are made at an assembly facility" and "tested at Rawlings’ research and development center," both of which are in Missouri. Rawlings Exec VP/Marketing Mike Thompson said that ending production "won't mean the loss of jobs." Brown noted the move comes as Rawlings is "locked in a patent infringement lawsuit with Chicago-based Riddell." A motion filed Friday stated that the two sides have "reached an agreement on a settlement, but the terms haven’t been finalized." Thompson said that the decision to stop making football helmets and shoulder pads is "unrelated to the lawsuit." He said, "It was not a factor." Thompson added, "We have made a business decision to refocus ourselves on our core product lines, which are diamond sports: baseball, fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/21).
