Maine Company Pads Patriots In The Super Bowl

When Super Bowl 53 fires up on Sunday, the Patriots won't be the only New England representation.

A Lewiston, Maine company will have a major impact on this year's Super Bowl. According to the Lewiston Sun Journal, Jones & Vining makes the 16 pads that fit inside Riddell SpeedFlex helmets. That company’s helmets are worn by more than half of the players in the National Football League. So, while this is nothing new, it's something neutral New England residents can cheer for Sunday.

Staying in the middle is something the company is known for. Jones & Vining General Manager Michael Maskwa told the Sun Journal that most of the time, “we don’t cheer for anybody, necessarily.” He reportedly laughed and said  “Except this week.”

They've been working with Riddell for a dozen years. The newest SpeedFlex style was 2½ years in development to get the foam pads just right, according to the Sun Journal.

Many employees watch the games closely to catch who is wearing their product. Maskwa told the Sun Journal. “When you can point at something either in the store or on TV that you know you’ve made, it’s really meaningful for everybody here.”