Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > April > 02 > Entry
NFL tackles, tables ‘hairy’ issue
NFL (NO FUN LEAGUE) AT IT AGAIN
I need a show of hands.
On second thought, a flood of emails will do.
How many of you fine, rabid, passionate NFL fans out there have the fantasy of jumping from the grandstands, running onto the field, grabbing Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu by the hair and giving it a good, hard yank — just for the heck of it?
If not Polamalu, then cornerbacks Al Harris of Green Bay and Mike McKenzie of New Orleans?
All three have long hair flowing outside their helmets.
Tempting, isn’t it?
“As a fan,” wrote one of my bosses at the Dayton Daily News, “I can’t tell you how many times I have wanted to see someone get grabbed by their long hair and taken down.”
Well, it happened two years ago when Polamalu had his hair grabbed by Kansas City tailback Larry Johnson and was thrown to the turf after an interception against the Chiefs.
The incident triggered a nerve in Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards, who proposed a rule designed to ban players from having hair flow from their helmets below their names on the back of their jerseys.
ISSUE FAR FROM DEAD
The controversial proposal, which triggered a national debate, was tabled at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., this week. But folks, the issue isn’t dead. It promises to surface again at the next NFL owners meeting in May in Atlanta.
First things first, of course. The NFL Players Association — yes, the players’ union — must be involved in the discussion. In delaying any vote on this hairy issue, the NFL owners and coaches can expect to receive plenty of feedback from the players association.
“We had a pretty good feeling it was going to get tabled,” Edwards told the media at the NFL owners meetings. “We have to take it to the (players’) union to consider. That’s OK. Basically what we’re looking at is a discussion. In our opinion, it’s a violation of the dress code.”
HAIRCUTS NOT REQUIRED
The rule banning long hair on the field DOES NOT require players to get haircuts. However, it would “require them to tuck it up inside their helmets,” said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the league’s competition committee.
In my humble opinion, it’s also a violation of players’ rights. Long hair is a part of the history, heritage and culture of players who hail from American Samoa, players such as the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive tackle duo of Domata Peko and Jonathan Fanene. Both have long hair. Fanene keeps his pulled back during games. Peko’s hair is tied in a knot at the base of his neck, but his mane spills out onto his jersey.
I love this quote from Edwards, who never expected the issue to go from “discussion” to “debate” to “national furor.”
“It’s like a fish story,” Edwards said. “It started as a guppy. When it got to New York (the league office), it was a whale. Everyone kept adding to the story.”
‘YOU COVER IT UP’
Nevertheless, Edwards is sticking with the idea that he believes excessive hair is a dress code violation of the player’s uniform.
“There is a certain way we feel the uniform should be portrayed,” Edwards said. “That’s why we brought it up. I think we are all naïve if we don’t know who those guys are. We are talking about uniform violations in our opinions. There were a lot of years players didn’t have names on the backs of their jerseys. All of a sudden, you get it, and you cover it up. When I was growing up playing football, you looked at pro football players and said, ‘I can’t wait to get my name on the jersey.’ Now, you get it on the back and you cover it up.”
Edwards made his case. The league, of course, will listen to the players. The Atlanta owners meetings in May should be pay-per-view. Heck, it’ll be bigger than “Wrestlemania.” Shoot, I’d pay $49.99 to be a fly on that wall.
NFL fans, I need your thought-provoking opinions.
Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: NFL
Comments
By Teresa
April 2, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I think it should be a players choice, but if they chose to have long flowing hair, they should not complain if it is pulled during a game. I am a huge fan of pro football-Go Steelers, and think it should not interfer with the game.By Sharon
April 2, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
I think they should have to either cut the long hair…or make them put it in their helmets. GO STEELERS…By Anthony Peko
April 2, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
I myself am a football player in college right now with long hair and I don’t think that this is fair. Player’s with long hair know the risks they are taking by wearing it out and I say to just leave it at that. If it gets yanked during a game there should be no penalty, but I mean if players are just going to start pulling it just to pull it then there should be some kind of penalty. Overall I think they should let players have their hair out, it won’t hurt anyone but the players if it gets pulled anyways. GO BENGALS & DOMATA!!!By Hillary
April 2, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
I think the boys need to suck it up or rather tuck it up in their helmets. If the pro-cheerleaders cheering them on can be held to ridiculous standards of appearance (required haircuts, colors, weight and clothing at all times) the guys can cut or at least hide their hair that serves as a distraction from the game.By LB
April 2, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
What other uniform-wearing professions allow such personal expression? … can you imagine police and firefighters sportin’ the long ‘do … not to mention military? Appearance and safety are issues … and what about hygiene?? Speaking of which, I always laugh when I see a QB lick his hands after having them under a center’s sweaty bum … think of that when you’re eating dinner tonight!By Marcus
April 2, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
I believe that it is the players right to have long hair and have it hang out of there helmets. If they want to cover their names that is their choice as long as their number is clearly visible. We dont hear referees say “holding Polamalu, defense”. It’s their risk and as long as they understand that the NFL shouldn’t ban long hair. GO STEELERS!! Malo Polamalu! From SamoaBy Kelly
April 2, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
As a big Packers fan (don’t you bash Al Harris, Chick! j/k!), I’m seeing more and more long hair being displayed on the field. The first one I really remember was a Dolphins player back in 2000… and I thought that it was players choice, and since the hair is part of “uniform”, it wouldn’t be considered something bad if someone were to use the hair to take a player down. These guys are making their own decisions to let their hair out of the helmet and out of reach of other players, and it should be their choice (and their gamble) if their hair is used to make a play.By R J..Miamisburg
April 2, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
I for one, think long hair should NOT be worn during the season. This is a PRO Sport, During the seaon the player MUST abide by the team/NFL rule’s, regarding most everything. WHY would long Hair not be one. Yes it is not the 50’s-60’s and Vince L and Green Bay, he must be rolling in his grave to see a player on his beloved Packer with hair flowing out on his helmet..It just doesn’t look good to see a plyer hair hiding his number or bein used to pull the player to the ground. Some will say OH this is part of the history of the person, etc etc. WELL they didn’t waer it long until the last few years, so they could wear it long in the post season. I don’t think all those from the 50’s-60’s-70’s 80’s cared to wear it long why now? I’m not some fuddy duddy , just a fan who thinks long hair is not for a Pro. Can you stop and think how a BasketBall Pro player would look like if he ran down the court with his hair all over, or out from under a Baseball players batting helmet? Sad to see a Football player with his.By Roy D Mercer
April 3, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
I think the long has to go! The idiots look like the creature from the predator movies!