While concussions have taken most of the attention, another safety issue is taking center stage as the NFL owners are planning on voting Tuesday on a proposal that would make thigh and knee pads mandatory for all players starting with the 2013 NFL season. The proposal requires a 75 percent vote of all NFL owners to pass.
The proposal is controversial among NFL players, as some players don’t wear the protection because they believe that the bulky pads slow them down. This is particularly an issue for the speed positions such as defensive back and wide receiver.
Other proposals under consideration in the league’s spring meeting on Tuesday are proposals that would move the regular season trade deadline from Week 6 to Week 8 and a proposal that would allow one player per season to return to the active roster from the injured reserve.
