The NFL is "planning to relent on its notoriously strict uniform policy this season, but only for a week," according to Jonathan Jones of SI.com. A league source said that there will be "more personal messages on players’ cleats in Week 13." The NFL is "planning to allow players to promote a charitable cause of their choice during the Dec. 4 weekend, and a separate league source indicated that plan will go beyond cleats." Players must "have the charity or cause approved by the league prior to Week 13, as the league will still determine the legitimacy of the cause." The players must also "auction off the cleats after use" and donate 100% of the proceeds to that charity or cause. The NFL could announce this plan "as early as this week." Some players "wore 9/11-inspired cleats this past weekend that did not adhere to the policy despite the possibility of a fine." Fines from the Week 1 games "won't be announced until later this week." But Jones noted the new policy "will still raise questions." Jones: "How will the NFL set its threshold for approval? No reasonable person would be against raising money and awareness for, say, children with cancer. But what of support for the local police union or the Black Lives Matter movement?" (SI.com, 9/12).
SUPPORT SYSTEM: In Nashville, Jason Wolf notes Titans LB Avery Williamson wore patriotic cleats Sunday, and Titans coach Mike Mularkey was "not only supportive" of the gesture, but will also "handle any fine from the league." Mularkey: "Him wearing those shoes is doing something the right way. If he gets a fine, I'm going to take care of that." Wolf notes Williamson "originally planned to wear the star-spangled blue cleats with red- and white-striped Nike swooshes to honor those who died, but in an effort to avoid becoming a distraction, changed his mind when an NFL representative called to inform him about a looming fine for violating uniform code." But he "changed his mind" on Saturday as a report about the situation "went viral." Several of Williamson's teammates "offered to help pay the fine if he wore the cleats, as did four New York and New Jersey police associations." Williamson is "auctioning the cleats to benefit Operation Warrior Wishes, plus offering a meet and greet, two VIP tickets to a Titans home game and an autographed jersey" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 9/13).
RAISING QUESTIONS? A N.Y. POST editorial states that it is "A-OK" with the NFL's decision to "respect the First Amendment rights of the handful of players using the National Anthem as the occasion for symbolic protest." The editorial: "What puzzles us are the messages the league won't allow. ... Why did the NFL stomp on the Dallas Cowboys?" The team wanted to wear a decal on its helmets this season to "commemorate the five Dallas police officers slain in the line of duty last July." The league "nixed the tribute, citing strict rules on uniform displays." The editorial: "Some warned it would open the door to other political statements" (N.Y. POST, 9/13). The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw noted despite the league denying the Cowboys' request, fans "see all these protests going on” during the National Anthem, which “seems like the NFL has a problem.” The Washington Post’s Kevin Blackistone: “Once again, the NFL is trying to control the message" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 9/12).
