15
Aug
2009
Chris Cooley reminds us that the NFL frowns on individuality
Roger Goodell will not tolerate sock violations ... or pledge pins on your uniform
Redskins TE Chris Cooley – the NFL’s best blogger – recently posted an account of a team meeting regarding uniform violations, reminding us just how seriously the NFL takes their policies (in case there was any doubt). Cooley goes on to list some of the fines that can be levied against players for straying from the league dress code.
Camp is well underway so let the multitude of meetings continue – all kinds varying from local gang activity to how to handle your baby’s mama. One of my favorite annual meetings was held as the the team gathered restlessly yesterday afternoon. The NFL dress code and fine schedule.
Just for fun I figured I would list some of the fines mentioned in our meeting and different amounts.
$5000 fines
- High/Low whites on socks
- Pants not covering knees (no skin should show below the waist)
- Bandana
- Wrong nasal strip
- Hand towel alterations – towel must be 7 to 8 inches and have no tape on it
- Tape not the same color of the shoe.
- Jersey untucked (usually there is a warning for this one)
- Jersey cut too short
- Sleeves coming out of jersey – only QB can have this and only a certain amount can come out
- Chinstrap undone ($7500)$10,000 fines
- Personal messages
- Any second offense fine
- Wrong attire 90 minutes previous and after a game – clothes must be Reebok apparel
- Tinted visor – must have a doctors note for a tinted visor
Some of these fines might seem nick-picky, sure. But the fines go to charity, and it’s not like these are huge hits on players’ bank accounts either. And I can totally see why a bandana and incorrect nasal strip could be a threat to the integrity of the game. That’s just common sense.
27
Mar
2009
NFL going the way of Nascar
In further money-grubbing news from the NFL owners meetings, sponsorship logos may be coming to NFL practice jerseys.
photo credit: withleather.com
From USA Today:
… the league is exploring the possibility of having sponsor logos worn unobtrusively on practice jerseys. In addition to receiving a four-year, $4 billion extension from DirecTV and investigating relaxing rules against liquor and lottery sponsorships, the practice jersey sponsor logos were addressed at the three-day owners’ meetings that concluded Wednesday. Further discussion will be held at the league’s May meetings in Fort Lauderdale.
“It would be similar to logos worn on pro soccer jerseys,” …
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti goes on:
“We’re talking about something unobtrusive that when the guys are being interviewed, people can can see the sponsor logo on their jerseys. But it’s no bigger or more obtrusive than the patches worn for the Super Bowl logo …
Players would not wear the logos on their jerseys during games, even in the preseason. And teams might be able to rotate sponsors at different times of the year.”
I hear them saying its just practice jerseys, and that logos won’t be worn in games. That’s what they’re saying.
Preview of a typical NFL Jersey in 2015
But you just KNOW that if the league makes any money off of this (and they will), they’re going to gradually expand it until we’re eventually seeing Wonder Bread logos subtly inserted behind player numbers, Tide logos splashed across shoulder pads and Gatorade one-pieces replacing traditional uniforms.
As a reminder, these are the current NFL Europe Jerseys (see the tiny Cardinals logo under the collar?) … it’s only a matter of time, my friends. Only a matter of time.
