I Understand the NFL’s Decision (Kind of)

DeAngelo Williams asked the NFL if he could wear pink for the entire season in honor of his mother who died from breast cancer last year. They said no and I understand their decision...kinda.  Don't get me wrong, it's a great way for DeAngelo to pay tribute to his mother but I think the NFL's reasoning behind it, goes like this: If they let one person alter their uniform in some way, then they need to let everybody. Meaning if DeAngelo wanted to wear pink for the rest of the season, why couldn't another player wear purple for domestic violence, or yellow in honor of a loved one overseas in the military? Then you'll have different players wearing different colors for this or that and the uniforms will not look....uniform? Again, this is just what I think is the reasoning and it makes sense.

A good way around the rule would be for the player to dye their hair whatever color to support whatever cause they want. I believe that's legal.

Remember Jim McMahon? The Bears QB in the 80's? Back in 1985, he wore a headband that said "JDF CURE" in support of juvenile diabetes then changed the headband when the game started to to a headband reading "POW-MIA," in reference to U.S. servicemen imprisoned or missing in action from the Vietnam War. He had worn one previous that said "Adidas" and was fined $5,000. So, in response, he and teammate Walter Payton wore matching headbands that said "Rozelle," the name of the NFL Commissioner at the time.

Anyway, I kind of get the reasoning behind it. It's a stupid rule but it's a rule nonetheless.

DeAngelo did something AMAZING though in response. He paid for 53 mammograms for 53 women in North Carolina. One for each year of his mother's life. The average cost of a mammogram is $243 bringing the total bill to $12,879. DeAngelo Williams is a great guy and though I am not a fan of the Steelers, you are now one of my favorite players.