Blocking Pads: Ain’t That A Kick In The Ribs

Since football players began padding up in the 1890s, the game has had a love-hate relationship with pads. Early pads were primarily made of leather or cotton, which absorb water and become heavy, which sucks if you want to move quickly. Well-to-do teams changed pants at halftime to rid themselves of their sweat or rain-soaked encumbrances.

While head harnesses or helmets, shoulder pads, thigh pads, knee pads, and hip/kidney pads were standard, pads protecting the ribs were not. Whether they were...