CowboyB

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

this hair style as a style reserved for thugs, scumbags, and Pac Man Jones.This comment is hilarious.  Gotta love it. On the issue at hand, I wouldn't really mind the rule. It would seem to be that hard to have your hair under your helmet. It is a bit petty though. Surely there are more important things for the owners to debate. Actually, I would think the players would keep the hair inside the helmet anyway. One less thing to be pulled down by. Again, I don't have a big objection to the rule, but I wonder why this is one of the main issues they are discussing.

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

For many players, they will have to cut their hair or get rid of the dreads. For a lot of them, it is so thick, there is no way the hair could be packed in the helmet, unless they jump 5-6 sizes in the helmet. They have already made it a rule that the hair is a part of the uniform so there is no infraction if the hair gets pulled. So as of right now and as it should stay, it is a players decision to have that risk. I cannot find any reason to make this rule other than the appearance of the team and players. If they want to tell me it is for the safety of their players, then I would have to propose turning the NFL into the NFTL. National Football TOUCH League.

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

Well, I have a suspicion that this talk came about after the playoffs when the refs made a bad call in the Jags/Steelers playoff game.  One of the Jags players went down and the ball was spotted where his hair was out of bounds (though they didn't call it due to being out of bounds).   I think the owners are just trying to think about the best way to hlep give their players an edge.  After all Polamalu's hair was what cost him a td one year on an interception and you have the chance of a play ending because another players hair flew out of bounds while running down the side.

I think the most noteable player in the NFL with his hair, very few, if any would consider him a thug, scumbag, etc...(that man in your pic).  So I dont' think that it's the racial discrimination aspect. 

However, I really don't see this really becoming an issue or a rule, unless there becomes more controversial calls during the game due to the hair. 

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

I think the most noteable player in the NFL with his hair, very few, if any would consider him a thug, scumbag, etc...(that man in your pic).  So I dont' think that it's the racial discrimination aspect. 

I don't necessarily believe that is the discrimination aspect for the majority either. However, when you here all the comments made about Stephen Jackson, and realize he is not a thug or scumbag, then you wonder what other people are thinking.

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

However, when you here all the comments made about Stephen Jackson, and realize he is not a thug or scumbag, then you wonder what other people are thinking.

I've never heard the negative comments about Stephen Jackson, and the comments on Pacman Jones were never about his hair.  Dreds in the NFL is nothing new.  No one thought Ricky Williams was a thug because of his hair. 

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

So I guess since you never heard it, it never happened?

And yes, people judged Ricky Williams too.

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

Not on his dreds.  Let's face it, if a person is going to be racist, they'll find an issue, regardless of the length of their hair.  For as much as you've said that the dreds bring out derogatory and judgemental comments, the same people would have found other issues with the player if his hair was short or he shaved it.  (i.e, Chad and his grill). 

The argument with long hair on men regardless of race has gone back to the 60's and still exist today, regardless of race.  For some reason, unless you're an old hippy, long hair on a man gives quite a few men the willies, especially since having long hair is a "feminine" distinction. 

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

I don't understand the big deal really?  I think it comes from something like this:  (If you let the kids jump on the bed for the first 5 years of thier life and then tell them they can't there is going to be a debate since they have been able to do it for so long)  I personally don't care if they cut it or don't it doesn't bother me.  But I don't see how you can turn this into a civil dispute.  My place of employment makes me stay with a clean cut and shave and dress nice, it is the way my company wants me so to continue working I am going to follow these rules.  I don't see why these athletes should be different and how they would win the fight with the civil right issue, but then again it does seem like these stars (and I use stars because it goes for actresses, actors, sports figures, etc..) seem to be above the law and have thier own rules they are able to follow.  Look at all the stars excluding Michael Vick that have been arrested for something and look up a everyday Joe that has them same charges and see the difference in penalties!  It ridiculous, but what is the little man to do or say about it....NOTHING..unless it is on a form like this!!!

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

Yes the argument of long hair may have gone back. But they call white people with long hair a hippy or a rockstar. but when a black man is seen with dreads and or braids, he is feared as a thug, gangster, or rapper, which carries a much more negative connotation than rockstar or hippy.

NFL Rules Walking Fine Line?

But they call white people with long hair a hippy or a rockstar. but when a black man is seen with dreads and or braids, he is feared as a thug, gangster, or rapper, which carries a much more negative connotation than rockstar or hippy

Hippy or rockstar?? Try more like a limp wristed "fag".