Hair In The NFL?

For those neolithic minded individuals please remember America was hated for being different, and if you don’t know who  George Marshall was please read about his preposterous convictions during his time as the Red Skins owner. After much reflection I am sure your antiquated minds will agree that this free country, the Civil Rights Act, and the established E.E.O.C have all made the U.S.A. the different country it is and that the length of a pro-football players hair is the least of the worlds issues.

With the numerous amount of men who have sported long hair in their days, this topic just makes it even more absurd to stereotype and forbid in the NFL.

These players sport their long hair for the same reasons and the majority are positive role models. Their hair is an extension of their identity, a fashion statement, and to others it makes them feel more confident or ferocious like a wild animal. However, for players like Damato Peko and Troy Polamalu their long hair is a way to be recognized by other “Wild Samoan” (poly) players while on the field. So what is wrong with a strong will to be an individual or wanting to make a statement to make yourself or heritage stand out by using hair?  These men are not hurting anyone by doing it and I personally think it’s kind of sexy!

*****Opinion: Conformists please take a seat and shut up!

If the NFL and franchise owners want to change the rules on the playing field to make hair grabbing an infraction then okay I agree. There is definitely an increase in the likelihood that an injury will occur when hair grabbing is associated with a sport full of testosterone. However, if a rule to protect players with long hair from injury is the real issue then just allow players to wear beanies to wrap their braids up or ask them tuck it in the their jerseys, but cutting locks is personal and extreme.

There are 32 teams in the NFL and during the season the roster can consist of a maximum of a 53 men, and in the off-season teams can carry as many as 80 players or as many as 2560 men in total. Therefor, with the array of cultures in America and the melting pot of personal preferences, the NFL is probably the most diverse industry in the world. So listening to ignorant conformists argue that the image factor is their reasoning for wanting to issue rules on the length of players hair is laughable.

To me the massive amount of flowing locks under a players helmet is sexy and in an odd way it is masculine; it showcases strong individuality. However, when I saw Polamalu get his hair snatched, the Chris Chambers brawl, or even Marion Barber’s take down by locks made me think if the hair hanging outside a helmet is worth the repercussions. Nevertheless, it is the players choice to have have their hair hang outside their helmets and as long as these individuals are aware of the possible consequences of being jerked around by their hair then it’s their informed decision.

As far as I know football is a “man’s sport”, so witnessing a player break away to see a defender snatch out a piece of his hair to make the take down or prevent forward progress is all part of the game and legal. Therefor, if players like Channing Crowder, Marion Barber, Troy Polamalu, Chris Johnson, Clay Matthews, Kyle Turley, Jesse Holley, Larry Fitzgerald, Benny Sapp, Damato Peko and even Tom Brady understand that hair makes them more vulnerable then shoot it is on them.

The NFL has more important issues than to babysit adult men pulling hair, they have tax money to steal with that 501 c 3 and a 2011 lockout to negotiate. So please NFL don’t waste time on hairy issues, after all this is football- professional football and those who choose to keep their hair flopping in the wind know the vulnerability of whiplash caused by hair pulling. Players like regular people are capable of making choices, and having their hair yanked is just like the people who chose to smoke but ignore the fine print; harmful and may cause death! They have been warned now “LET’S PLAY BALL”!