NFL Considering Ban on Long Hair

[rizolltizide]

First of all, you have to understand what they are proposing and how their rules work.
They are not trying to ban long hair. They are considering an enforceable rule that would disallow hair from hanging below the nameplates on the back of uniforms. Since the rule now states that hair is considered part of the uniform, the NFL has total control over how the "uniform" must look. No questions asked. All they have to do is tuck it inside their helmets. They don't have to cut it and they won't be banned from playing if they don't cut it. Go look at the fines doled out by the league on a weekly basis for uniform violations. It is crazy what they get them for, but nonethless, rules are rules. I would imagine if they refused to "tuck" it into their helmets they would just receive a fine and life goes on.

On a separate note, I love seeing them get janked down by those flowing manes much more so than being horse collared. Good times.

But they AREN'T banning long hair.

 

[Proxigean Tide]

So you feel the players are like dogs in a dog show?

I am at a loss as to how you could've possibly drawn this conclusion from reading my post.

Long hair covers up the uniform, obscuring the players name. The league monitors and enforces uniform regulations aimed at putting a homogenous, uniform and consistant image on the field. They don't allow players to do anything to "customize" their look or alter the uniform in any way. Therefore, it is inconsistant to allow players to cover parts of the uniform with lengthy hair.

Try taping over the NFL logo on the jersey...or the helmet logo, and see what kind of fine that draws. The NFL won't allow it because they are trying to produce a uniform, highly recognizable and strongly consistant product. Long hair flys in the face of these efforts (no pun intended) and thats why I think the NFL should and will move to ban excessively protruding hair from the back of helmets.

 

[GreatDanish]

It is an issue of personal responsibility, and these are grown men, but I still have to abide by a pretty stringent dress code at work. I accept personal responsibilty for my appearance, but I still have standards (pretty high standards) set forth by my superiors.
If the league legitimately sees this as an issue - even if it is only as an "image" problem, which I don't think it is - then they should implement the rule, and punish those who do not abide by it. Or, they can have teams implement the rule if they so choose (which, of course, wouldn't really work).
Either way, I think the junk about how they are grown men and should be able to say how they cut their hair is garbage. Few businesses operate that way - there are standards - even standards of appearance solely for image purposes. Even fast food chains have standards for appearance.
It's why teenagers in schools tell their teachers and principals that they should not have to be told what to wear. Sometimes there are rules, and we simply have to follow them. I'm just sick of this attitude in sports, and becoming prevalent everywhere of, "It's my right to ..." It's no one's right to have long hair.
I'm not really for the rule or against it, but I just hate the whole "rights" issue. The constitution doesn't mention it. The Bible doesn't mention it. I'm just curious where the right to wear their hair how they want came from. If this rule is implemented, I just hope people shut up and follow the rule instead of setting the true poor example of defying the rules about something so miniscule. That's what teenagers are going to see and mimic.

 

[BamaDude06]

Where I work people aren't allowed to have long hair (at least not too long), braids, rolls, gelled up, spiked, mohawks, "extreme" styles, designs cut into the hair, can't have it dyed "unnatural" colors, etc. I don't see a problem. Really long hair on grown men just looks unprofessional, IMO.

 

[bamaslammer]

does that include back hair?

 

[BamaNation]

When a guy is making minimum $300K per year, his employer OUGHT to have the RIGHT to tell him how to dress / look. If the guy wants to keep his long hair outside his uniform, he can do so outside the NFL and on a flag football field.

It's pretty cut and dry to me. The problem with pro athletes is that they infer rights that they really don't have instead of being thankful for the privileges they do have.

 

[crimsonbleeder]

First of all, you have to understand what they are proposing and how their rules work.
They are not trying to ban long hair. They are considering an enforceable rule that would disallow hair from hanging below the nameplates on the back of uniforms. Since the rule now states that hair is considered part of the uniform, the NFL has total control over how the "uniform" must look. No questions asked. All they have to do is tuck it inside their helmets. They don't have to cut it and they won't be banned from playing if they don't cut it. Go look at the fines doled out by the league on a weekly basis for uniform violations. It is crazy what they get them for, but nonethless, rules are rules. I would imagine if they refused to "tuck" it into their helmets they would just receive a fine and life goes on.

On a separate note, I love seeing them get janked down by those flowing manes much more so than being horse collared. Good times.

But they AREN'T banning long hair.

Now I can understand that. Asking that the hair be placed beneath the uniforms, etc., wouldn't be unreasonable...

 

[bamanut_aj]

for the record, does Tidefans.com have a policy on long hair? My mullet is only shoulder length.

 

[BamaNation]

So, what do you think kills more people every year: long hair or motorcycles/automobiles? Few (if any) NFL players seem to have a problem with riding motorcycles or driving fast cars and I guarantee they are jeopardizing themselves to a much greater degree than playing with long hair.

I dunno, this simply smacks of "you should look presentable" to me, which I thought we had gotten past as a society. Sad.

CA - I rarely disagree with your take on things, so here's the first opportune time to do so

I'm not sure getting past how someone looks as a society has anything to do with this argument about players wearing long hair OUTSIDE their helmet. If they want to walk the streets looking like that, fine. However, I think once they enter an arena where they are paid by a team/league , then how they look is the business of the team/league - just the same as it is for almost person in any job. Of course, some professions or employers couldn't care less about how a person works so long as they do the job they're paid to do. In this case, the NFL is very concerned about how it's players look/act/dress/play on the field as evidenced by the major fines players and even coaches get when not following league rules on dress. Thus, if the league wants to enforce a no hair outside the helmet rule, then I'm all for it.

Other examples:

If a guy wants to wear a 'wife beater' undershirt to the beach fine. However, if he works for me, he better not wear it to work. If a guy wants to wear his britches hanging down his ankles when he's hanging with the boys, fine. However, if he works for me, he better not wear it to work. Same for women showing their belly at home vs work.

I understand the 'in society' argument and so long as I'm not looking at a guys butt or 'nads, fine. However, a place of employment (or for that matter a place of business in general) is a much different argument.

 

[crimsonaudio]

CA - I rarely disagree with your take on things, so here's the first opportune time to do so

I'm honored! (insert smilie here)

I'm not sure getting past how someone looks as a society has anything to do with this argument about players wearing long hair OUTSIDE their helmet. If they want to walk the streets looking like that, fine. However, I think once they enter an arena where they are paid by a team/league , then how they look is the business of the team/league - just the same as it is for almost person in any job.

I understand all that, but my point is - if it doesn't affect performance, what's the issue? What's next - tattoo removal? No facial hair? As preposterous as those examples are, they are just as visible as long hair...

For the record, my hair doesn't touch my collar - I just think this has everything to do with how they 'look', while the NFL has proved over and over again it's all about performance.

Amazing they allow guys who are obvious steroid users to walk about with no consequences to speak of, yet they need to make a rule about the length of their hair...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I thought these kinds of off-season threads would halt for a while during the Spring Practice interruptum. I don't have much to add other than the posts are bifurcated, and I'm not sure everyone realizes that. One question is whether or not the rule is silly. I have to agree with CA that there are a lot of other rules which could better demand their attention and enforcement. However, that said, for the money they pay, they are entitled to decide which rules that want to make and enforce. I think some of the US Army's rules are silly also, but they are in a position to insist on their observance...

 

[THE BAMA IRISHMAN]

for the record, does Tidefans.com have a policy on long hair? My mullet is only shoulder length.

I wish I had enough hair for a mullet. In my house my wife calls me Mr. Clean.

 

[Alasippi]

The NFL is pondering whether or not to ban long hair. Personally, I think it should be done. There are a few players with hair that protrudes at least 6 inches out from under their helmets, which can interfere with them being tackled (grabbing the jersey up around the neckline), or it could lead to impaired performance once a player gets a giant clump of hair jerked out of their scalp.

All in all, I think players should not be allowed to have hair that comes out from under their helmets.

I don't think they should be able to wear red T-shirts at home in their back yard either.
Of course, I jest.
This is a non-issue. Freedom of Expression should never be countered by some league holier than thou policy.
I could care less.

 

[PalmBayBama]

They are considering requiring players to tuck their hair under their helmets? That's a dumb idea for two reasons already touched on in this thread:

1. All that hair tucked under the helmet will hold in more heat. I'd hate to be the one to explain that I caused someone to have a heat stroke because I was worried about creating a cookie-cutter image.

2. All that hair tucked under the helmet will cause it to come off more often.

 

[Proxigean Tide]

They are considering requiring players to tuck their hair under their helmets? That's a dumb idea for two reasons already touched on in this thread:

1. All that hair tucked under the helmet will hold in more heat. I'd hate to be the one to explain that I caused someone to have a heat stroke because I was worried about creating a cookie-cutter image.

2. All that hair tucked under the helmet will cause it to come off more often.

A pair of scissors will rectify both those issues.