Why don't they where thigh pads anymore?

[CowboyWay]

i've been noticing more and more that players don't wear thigh pads anymore. Why the hell not? I always thought it was a very important pad. Especially with the size and speed of todays players flying into your knee and leg areas to get you down.

Any ideas?

 

[BigD]

I believe our very own Micheal Irvin actually started this back in the early 90's. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on that. I believe the reason behind ditching them was because you are faster and more agile without them. Simple as that. Obviously they'll take speed and agility over a bruised quad any day.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I believe our very own Micheal Irvin actually started this back in the early 90's. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on that. I believe the reason behind ditching them was because you are faster and more agile without them. Simple as that. Obviously they'll take speed and agility over a bruised quad any day.

I believe that is exactly why they stopped wearing them. I don't know who was the first one to really do it but I'm pretty sure I remember that being the reasoning behind it.

 

[DFWJC]

I believe that is exactly why they stopped wearing them. I don't know who was the first one to really do it but I'm pretty sure I remember that being the reasoning behind it.

Yes, that is the reason behind it.

I had assumed that only the WRs,DBs, and maybe RBs had stopped wearing them. Has veryone stopped? I hadn't noticed.

 

[Doomsday101]

While watching the Ohio St game they showed the new uniform where all the padding is built into the pants and they said with the light weight material they use the heaviest part of the uniform is the metal ring you use to secure the pants. Yet the padding gives them good protection.

 

[CowboyWay]

EJ Henderson just had his femur broken because of a hit in that area.

I can't believe the teams don't make these guys where them for the money they get paid. Maybe Nascar shouldn't require helmets because it limits drivers vision.

Anyone familar with the hard plastic shin pads soccer players wear? They are very thin, but hard. Why not have some custom made for your thigh? there is no way it would be bulky, so I can't believe a player would complain about it, and they over a ton of protection as well.

Seems almost stupid not to wear them.

 

[jay cee]

Yes, that is the reason behind it.

I had assumed that only the WRs,DBs, and maybe RBs had stopped wearing them. Has veryone stopped? I hadn't noticed.

I know as far back as the mid 80's most of the DB's and WR's I played with in college did not want to wear them. But IMO, it was more for appearance than actual effectiveness.

But I was a slower than slow lineman, so I can't be certain of that.

I know how much the pads helped me, so I find it shocking that some lineman don't wear them.

 

[BigD]

I'm almost willing to bet you EJ wears them. It seems to be mostly a WR and DB thing. I'm also willing to bet that all RB's wear them for obvious reasons and I think pads might be a required thing for collegiate players. Again somebody correct me if I'm wrong as I do not follow or watch callege games too much. I'm pretty sure it's a by choice thing for the NFL.

 

[BigD]

I dug this up; excuse the references to Philly but this is the best article I could find.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20091122_In_NFL__leg_pads_no_longer_fashionable.html

 

[CowboyWay]

I dug this up; excuse the references to Philly but this is the best article I could find.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20091122_In_NFL__leg_pads_no_longer_fashionable.html

Good find. Thanks for posting.

I just find it hard to believe that a little padding on the top of your thigh is going to slow someone down.