NFL Defenses Tuning In This Season

NFL defenders are hearing voices in their heads—often the screams of their coaches. An off-season rule change allows select defensive players to use the same helmet communication devices quarterbacks have long been using, USA Today reports. While kinks are being ironed out, the system means incidents like the Patriots’ stealing of opponents’ hand signals will be a thing of football past.

Cheaters are apt to be discouraged by the system’s 268 million military-grade encryption codes. The $28,000 devices—given to a player determined by the coaching staff—will probably change up the game a bit: Offenses could opt for late switches after headsets are cut off with 15 seconds left on the play clock. (More NFL stories.)