Team owners met last week to discuss many potential changes in league rules, including a possible ban on long hair flowing from a player's helmet. Like many appearance-related rules, this one is stirring up controversy among those players and supporters thereof who believe long hair is a statement of who the players are as individuals, and is thus protected by the United States Constitution. Famous recent examples of the league's chilling effect on the First Amendment include the fines for uniform altering (Chad Johnson's "Ocho Cinco") and various touchdown celebration regulations. Are the owners slowly but surely eliminating individuality within the league?
Supporters claim that the rule is safety-related and would prevent a player's name and number on the back of the jersey from being obscured for the benefit of the referees. Those oppossed think this rule is just another way of controlling the NFL "product" — as if the owners not only controlled the teams, but also the players themselves. The implementation of a rule like this may just be taking ownership rights too far.
As a member of the long haired population, I couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to be brought down by my hair. However, players who choose to allow their hair to hang down from the back of their helmets are obviously aware of this risk and have disregarded it. In my opinion, if Troy Polamalu is brave and / or stupid enough to continue to wear his hair down, even after Larry Johnson used it as reigns, let him suffer the consequences. If you want to wear your hair long, do so at your own risk. Maybe after a few chunks of it are ripped out in battle, a long-haired player will re-evaluate his decision and tuck it up.
Rebecca is a New York based entertainment and intellectual property attorney, an agressive fantasy player and an avid Knicks and Jets fan. Got a question for Answer Gal? E-mail her at: answergal@fantasysportsupdate.com
