Much to the dismay and denial of many players, the NFL’s making them wear thigh and knee pads this year, and won’t let them play if they don’t.
So it makes sense to Cowboys coach Jason Garrett that they wear them during practice as well.
Garrett told players Saturday to check with the equipment staff for the kind they preferred, because he wants them on during practices.
“You’ve got to be able to carry your pads to be a good football player,” Garrett said, via Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com. “If you go out in shorts or in these pads that you’re not going to wear in the game and then, come game time, you’re wearing something different than what you’ve been practicing in, that’s not good for you.
“You want to feel comfortable. You want to feel like you’ve been there before, so we’ll do that in practice as well.”
As many players are muttering about it for aesthetic reasons rather than anything to do with health or safety, but linebacker Sean Lee met the news with a shrug.
“I think at first it’ll be an adjustment, but I don’t think it’s too big of a deal,” Lee said. “It’ll be good because you can practice in them and feel good.”
There’s been no sign from the league that they’re willing to bend even a little on this one, so Lee’s stance is a prudent one.