Posted on 12/02/2004 4:05:58 AM PST by beyond the sea
Ben Roethlisberger might be 9-0 as a starting quarterback for the Steelers, but he's 0-2 with the NFL's uniform police.
Roethlisberger was warned to cease and desist or pay a $5,000 fine if he continues to write messages on his white Nike game shoes. Roethlisberger has written the No. 40 on the sides of his shoes this season in honor of late Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, and written the initials "PFJ" on the toes of each shoe. The initials stand for Play For Jesus, a message Roethlisberger has carried onto football fields since he was a high school sophomore in Findlay, Ohio.
He has not been fined for either violation because he stopped doing it after he was warned. Once warned, a future violation carries a $5,000 fine and a second violation is a $10,000 fine.
"It's a rule," Roethlisberger said. "I don't make them and I don't want to break them, so that's something I have to take care of now."
He will still carry the message Sunday night in Jacksonville, only it might not be readily visible.
"It'll be somewhere," Roethlisberger said. "Let's see if they find it."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league does not permit any visible personal messages on players' uniforms.
"It's a long-standing policy," Aiello said. "You can't alter the uniform in that manner."
"We have to have standard uniform policy," Aiello said, "and there would be nowhere to draw the line in terms of personal message as far as which one is appropriate and which isn't. We do things as a league or as teams, teams will honor an individual and get approval to wear someone's initial or number.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
Hide it somewhere, Ben.
ping
He could take the NFL to court for religious discrimination. He'd win, too.
So these guys can wear jewelry, long, greasy hair and tatooes, but they can't write something on their shoes? I'm sure if it was a slam at the Bush administration it would be acceptable.
Sad. Ridiculous. This war is being fought on all fronts. This is but one tiny example. Can there be any doubt the bad guys are winning when a quarterback who writes about Jesus and a hero on his shoes where nobody can see it and, then, has to "hide" the writing to avoid a fine?
There is the answer....he just needs to get a PFJ tatoo....oh, wait...that's wrong.....
Ok, so even if it's a GOOD message the NFL will not permit it because it may offend some NAMBY?
He can put the number 40 on one arm, and PFJ on the other- as long as its on his skin. If he had a tattoo and it was visible, the league could do nothing. His skin belongs to him, so grab some skini safe markers and have fun, Ben!
the nfl ought to do something about all the stupid preening in the endzone after a touchdown ... these guys dancing around like girls or prancing with their their O-lines like the June Taylor dancers
Good for Ben! I'd be interested in knowing just who is complaining. The Anti-Christ Lunatic's Union? Islamofacists? Or weak-kneed NFL bureaucrats? It is going to drive them crazy just knowing he is wearing the message somewhere and they can't find it.
I'm all for expressing your faith on the field as long as your live it off the field.
"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." Titus: 3: 8
That's cool. He's toeing the line. He backs off before getting a fine, which keeps him out of trouble and sets the right example. But by going all the way up to the line, he's able to get his expression out, hence we read about Pat Tillman and Jesus. Next step is that he's gonna hide the messages now and make it a game for people to find it. Another brilliant way of drawing people in to his message. Smart guy.
Right now some young, enterprising person is making plans for a semi-permanent "tattoo" that will become the next rage. ;)
"It's a long-standing policy," Aiello said. "You can't alter the uniform in that manner."
I'm not sureBig Ben would win, but no matter what, he's not going there.
He'll have the words somewhere.
He could get a henna - that is just a temporary tatoo - lol - really mess with em.
I'd like to see the members in the military start putting little sayings and numbers and stuff like that on their uniforms, too!
At 6’ 6½” and 250 pounds, he played in six Pro Bowls. Greenwood was nicknamed “Hollywood Bags” for his trademark gold football shoes. As part of the Steelers dynasty of the 70’s, Greenwood holds four super bowl rings.
He was a very intelligent defensive lineman, but, as is written above, he had this peculiar desire to wear GOLD shoes. The League frowned on that too.
If the NFL is so worried about its image, they need to do something about those hideous dreadlocks, the tatoos, and the semi-nude cheerleaders bumping and grinding on the sidelines. I don't think they have to worry that Roethlisberger is offending too many viewer in the red counties of America. What a bunch of bureaucrats!
Or T-Shirts
The Fans could help Roethlisberger by wearing them for him since the NFL won' allow him to
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