NFL teams reportedly considering using police experts to check player tattoos

Since Aaron Hernandez was arrested in connection with the murder of Odin Lloyd, a lot has been made of the former New England Patriots tight end’s tattoos. Officials at Bristol County House of Corrections examined Hernandez’s tattoos extensively in an attempt to determine if anyone of them would prove that the 24-year-old has allegiances to gangs. They found nothing.

However, there were many who initially thought that this tattoo on Hernandez’s right hand may have signified some sort of gang affiliation. According to CBSSports.com’s Bruce Feldman, NFL teams are considering hiring police experts in the future to help them examine ink.

To me, that sounds like a slippery slope. We already have writers questioning athletes for simply having tattoos, and now experts are going to examine them?

Teams already perform extensive background checks on college players and have even been known to take questioning too far. Does examining a person’s body art extend beyond the realm of what’s reasonable? If it helps a team avoid drafting a player who associates himself with criminals off the field, I’m sure some teams would welcome it.