What Writers Are Saying - NFL Hair Issue

Filed in archive NFL on April 1, 2008

© silwenae

If you don't know by now, the NFL is going to rule on if they should allow players to wear their hair long enough that it covers their names. The proposal was first brought up by Kansas City Chiefs coach Herman Edwards, who thinks it should be a uniform violation, for safety reasons. Needless to say, there's been plenty of opinion about this. Let's take a look at what some writers are saying about the situation.

- Peter King, SI.com: I have never, ever heard a player or coach say any game was remotely affected by the length of a player's hair. And some of the biggest hair guys in the league are also some of its best people and best leaders. Al Harris. Troy Polamalu. Rashean Mathis.

To me, this is the classic case of people who don't play the game policing an element of the game that needs no policing whatsoever.

- Barbara Barker, NY Newsday: The bottom line is the NFL should be able to make some basic rules about how players present themselves on the field when playing the game. It happens in every other profession. And it happens in almost ever other sport. Golfers have to wear shirts with collars. Tennis players can't wear cutoff jeans.

- Seth Wickersham, ESPN.com: The league needs a few guys with long hair for one reason: It's cool. (Steven) Jackson looks cool breaking off 40-yard runs with his dreads bopping. (Troy) Polamalu looks cool hunting like a lion. (Al) Harris looks cool with his ropes dancing as he returns an interception.

Who cares if fans can't see the nameplates? Everyone knows them already. Personalities have that effect.

- Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Aren't there more important issues? Say, inconsistent officiating on pass interference? The rapidly rising cost of ticket prices keeping the NFL from remaining a "family game"? How about the dangerous binge drinking that goes on right outside of NFL stadiums? Or the medical needs of long-retired players?