The NFL is reportedly not planning to fine players who wore cleats on Sunday that honored the victims and responders of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
After he announced his plan to wear 9/11 remembrance cleats, Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson was contacted by an NFL official who told him he would be fined if he chose to violate the league’s uniform policy. At the urging of his own head coach and multiple police unions who offered to cover the fine, Williamson wore the cleats anyway.
Honoring #911Day @WarriorWishes by auctioning my cleats + meet/greet & #Titans tickets READ: https://t.co/OprfEiKcvZ pic.twitter.com/z0d8Z2qAVE
— Avery Williamson (@AWilliamson54) September 9, 2016
TMZ reached out to the NFL to ask if Williamson will be fined, and a league spokesperson responded that there is “nothing anticipated” in terms of fines or disciplinary action.
New York Giants wide receivers Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. also wore cleats honoring those affected by 9/11, so we assume they will not receive fines either.
Victor Cruz & Odell Beckham Jr. will wear these cleats today in remembrance of 9/11.
(Courtesy of Kickasso Kustoms) pic.twitter.com/hfBy3wfaEP
— ESPN (@espn) September 11, 2016
Williamson is planning to auction off his cleats and donate the proceeds to Operation Warrior Wishes. Cruz and Beckham will likely do something similar.
It’s about time the NFL softened its stance on uniform violations for certain circumstances. There’s no reason to fine players for paying tribute to 9/11 or loved ones who have passed like this star cornerback did last season. The policy should leave room for more subjectivity.
