Barry Sanders -- Custody Laws Favor Moms ... Dads Often Get Screwed

Barry Sanders is on a crusade for fathers' rights -- claiming dads often get the shaft in custody wars because the laws were written "in a time when mothers were the primary caregiver."

The NFL Hall of Famer wrote about the issue on his blog -- saying when he split with his wife in 2012, he secured a lawyer who specializes in "protecting the rights of men in divorce."

Sanders says he was able to reach a fair custody arrangement with his ex regarding their 3 young children -- but says, "There are plenty of horror stories out there of guys who go through a divorce and then rarely get to see their children."

His explanation -- "Despite that fact that men now often play a major role in raising children, many of the laws dealing with divorce were written in a time when mothers were the primary caregiver. Because of this, even great fathers can run into issues in the family courts when it comes to getting a fair parenting plan after the divorce."

He continues, "Family courts still tend to favor moms when it comes to custody."