Q: When did the NFL stop using knee pads as part of their uniforms or is it optional?
— Jim Pursley, Hartwell
A: Players must wear knee pads, according to National Football League rules.
Players must also wear helmets, shoulder pads and thigh pads. The NFL has uniform inspectors on the field before and during games to make sure players abide by the rules.
The league reminded the players that they “… must be in compliance with the league rule on mandatory thigh and knee padding,” in a 2015 memo posted on the NFL’s operations website.
“Any player who is not wearing his uniform in compliance with guidelines set by the rule will not be permitted to enter the game,” the memo stated.
Punters and kickers don’t have to wear thigh and knee pads.
Q: Of all the deals made on “Shark Tank,” how many never came to fruition? They all cannot be met for one reason or another.
— John McCauslan, Dacula
A: Of the 639 deals (through Nov. 4), 331 have closed (51.8 percent), according to a show spreadsheet.
Halle Tecco, an angel investor and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, keeps track of a variety of statistics on the show, which is in its eighth season.
The current season has been the most successful one for business owners, with 60.7 percent of 28 deals having closed.
The percentages, by season:
- Season 1: 42.2 percent
- Season 2: 52.8
- Season 3: 46.7
- Season 4: 50.5
- Season 5: 49.1
- Season 6: 56.9
- Season 7: 56.0
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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