NFL Could Ban Hair Flowing Out of Helmets Posted Mar 21st 2008 10:06AM by Michael David Smith Filed under: Chiefs, Jaguars, Steelers, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Featured Stories, The Word http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/21/nfl-could-ban-hair-flowing-out-of-helmets/ Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is known as much for the long hair that goes halfway down his back as for anything else. But Polamalu and other NFL players may soon be banned from exposing long hair on the field. Adam Schefter reported on NFL Network that the NFL's competition committee is considering a rule that would bar a player from wearing his hair long enough on the field to obscure his name on the back of his jersey. Players like Polamalu and Jaguars cornerback Rashaen Mathis would either need to get a haircut or figure out a way to stuff all that hair in their helmets throughout a game. According to Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs proposed the rule change, perhaps motivated by the incident in October 2006, when Chiefs running back Larry Johnson pulled Polamalu's hair to drag him down from behind -- which is legal -- and then held onto the hair after both players hit the ground, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty. Schefter reports that the Chiefs have argued that the hair requirement should be enforced as a uniform violation, similar to the league's requirements that players wear their socks a certain way. But there's also some support for the rules change from league insiders who believe it's unsafe to have players running around with hair hanging out their helmet. The 32 teams are expected to vote on the proposed rules change at the league meeting at the end of the month.
That's pretty lame. If the players know that there is a good chance that they may be pulled down from their hair, let 'em wear it.
What next? No more tight jerseys???? Bullshit rule that won't be allowed. I'll put my gay hat on for 2 secs. They'll be someone somewhere who will come up with the equality victimisation ticket and win. I don't think that anyone could die by being pulled down by the hair, at worst whiplash. Gay hat off.
Thank god, I'm sick of these idiotic dreadlocks. This is a football game, not a Bob Marley concert. And get rid of the tight jerseys too. NFL jerseys are supposed to have sleeves! They look better that way
....and maybe everyone going could wear suits and drink pop. I suppose you don't like TD celebrations too?
I'm not kidding, I think the nfl needs a de-ghettoization program. Too much of the hiphop culture has influenced the sport.
From a sport that features mainly heavy metal tracks during games, which I wouldn't associate too much with our black brothers. I think that the NFL is as balanced as it can be. The majority of players happen to be black and listen to hip-hop....whats the problem? If it wasn't for pricks like Pacman you wouldn't hear about it at all.
The league I currently play in adopts all NFL rule changes.... And I'm in the process of growing my hair out... By the time the season rolls around, it should be long enough to violate this proposed rule.... If I have to cut it- I'll be pissed....
who decides when it is long, and how long? Ironic that probably the 2 top 5 picks in the draft will be called LONG! :rofl:
This is probably a good thing but for different reasons,I suspect that a helmet doesn't work as well if a lot of hair is taking up space.It's probably safer to wear a helmet that fits your head than to wear a helmet one size to big to make space for your hair.
Disagree. I played at least 10 years, never ever got tackled by the hair and wore the right sized helmet. Having said that, the trend in the NFL is to have lids that slip off so easily, every week you see someone losing the old noggin hat
Keep it growing. If you read the whole article it says how it's basically on the bottom of the list in terms of priority. My guess is the NFL does not adopt this rule unless a serious injury results from a hair pull down the road. Until then you won't see any rule like this take place.
I think they should do this rule its the same as horse collaring could result in a serious injury its better to prevent the injury then wait for one to happen then pass the rule.
