The NFL has been on quite a quest to prove player safety is their number one concern lately: moving kickoffs from the 30 yard line to the 35 yard line, taking part in a youth football helmet replacement program, recent changes in helmet design, etc. They are now hoping to prove this yet again with a proposal to make wearing thigh and knee pads mandatory. NFL owners are expected to vote on this proposal when they meet for their annual spring meeting in Buckhead, Georgia, on May 22nd. The hope is that the inclusion of leg pads (hip pads not included) will cut down on bruising and other potential injuries.
Many players, especially those in high-speed positions such as wide receivers and cornerbacks, tend to not want to wear leg pads. Even though significant improvements have been made to make the pads lighter and sleeker, players still find them to be too bulky and heavy, limiting their ability to get down field quickly.
I’d make the choice to lose a fraction of a second two in order to limit my risk of serious injury. While no pad is going to stop a 350 pound man from breaking my leg, it may help to avoid a deep quadricep bruise that will sideline me and make me miss out on some salary incentives. Should the vote on Tuesday receive its required 75% approval, every player in the league won’t have that choice. And it is expected to receive its mandated 75% approval.
Other points of discussion at the annual meeting are moving the regular-season trade deadline from Week 6 to Week 8 and allowing one player to return from the injured reserve list during the season.