Two days after more than 100 people in Paris were murdered by terrorists, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport went on the air to cite anonymous league sources who said this:
The NFL seriously has to tell us ‘do not be surprised’ if they don’t fine players for Paris tributes
Never say that Roger Goodell doesn’t have a heart.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
“Do not be surprised if this is like it was after Sandy Hook a couple years ago, where players will not be fined for showing support.”
Spin it back: Players who make minor alterations to their football uniforms to honor victims of a senseless tragedy probably won’t get punished.
Um, congratulations?
The fact that this is a thing that actually needs to be said out loud says everything you need to know about the NFL’s sense of compassion. Because it does have to be said out loud. Because the NFL constantly fines players who make minor football uniform alterations to pay tribute to people whose situations are weighing on their hearts.
DeAngelo Williams, whose mother was claimed by breast cancer in 2010, was fined for wearing eye black that included the message “We will find a cure” and the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon. Cam Heyward was fined by the NFL for writing “Ironhead” on his eye black as tribute to his dead father, Craig Heyward. William Gay was fined for wearing purple cleats to raise domestic violence awareness.
In fact, just last week, the Panthers’ Josh Norman was fined for wearing patriotic cleats during a game dubbed the Salute to Service Game.
As Rapoport noted, the NFL did not fine players for uniform tributes to the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre, during which two dozen young children and teachers were murdered in their classrooms in Connecticut. Apparently there’s a threshold for human tragedy which must be reached before the NFL can allow its employees to display sympathy via eye black scribblings and cleat color choices.
Imagine the conversation someone surely had with Roger Goodell. “Are we going to fine players who write ‘Solidarité in their eye black, Commissioner?” No, the NFL will let that slide.
But just this week. Next Sunday, we’re back NFL-approved messages of sympathy only. Heavens forbid unspeakable human tragedy distracts the audience from the important thing here, which is football.
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SB Nation presents: Good riddance to paid patriotism
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