TruBlueCowboy
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Sometimes you just gotta shake your head at the NFL brass. No common sense upstairs sometimes. 
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_3219584,00.html
Tillman tribute intercepted
Plummer at odds with NFL on wearing '40' decal on helmet
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
September 30, 2004
If Jake Plummer continues paying tribute to his former college and pro teammate Pat Tillman by wearing a "40" decal on his helmet, he soon could be paying through the nose.
Plummer, the Broncos starting quarterback and twice a former teammate of the late Tillman, was in violation of the NFL's uniform code when he donned the sticker during the Broncos' victory Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
His helmet still is emblazoned with Tillman's former uniform number.
Plummer said after practice Wednesday he hadn't been informed of a fine yet, likely $5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for a second. But the league is promising to take action if he continues to ignore its call to desist, and might already have levied a fine through his agent.
"We will enforce our rule," NFL vice president of public relations Greg Aiello said.
All of the league's teams in Week 2 wore the "40" decal for Tillman, who was killed in the spring in combat in Afghanistan. Only the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman's former team, are slated to wear the decal all season.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Derek Smith, like Plummer, a former Arizona State teammate of Tillman's, petitioned the league last week to allow a personal continuation of the tribute.
The league declined, and Smith removed the "40" for the 49ers game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Plummer proceeded despite the denial.
"It's between me and the league right now," said Plummer, who also spent four seasons with Tillman (1998-2001) with the Cardinals. "We are working out something. They don't want us wearing that."
Plummer spoke of possible conciliation with the league "that won't infringe upon the NFL logo, their uniform codes," while continuing to honor his friend's memory "for the rest of the year."
"As long as I play, I will continue to do that," he added.
But any negotiations in that regard came as news to Aiello, who said, "I'm not familiar with any compromise."
The case is similar to one in September 2002, when Colts quarterback Peyton Manning wanted to wear high-top shoes as a nod to Johnny Unitas, who had died. The league also rejected that notion, and Manning went back to Indianapolis' usual white cleats.
"The rule is players can't use the uniform for personal tributes because there would be no place to draw the line," Aiello said. "There are certainly many ways for players to honor Pat Tillman than putting something on an NFL helmet."
Aiello also pointed out that Tillman has been recognized several times since his death, including at the draft, the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony and the season-opening kickoff show in addition to Week 2.
"I'm not going to fight the NFL about it," Plummer said.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_3219584,00.html
Tillman tribute intercepted
Plummer at odds with NFL on wearing '40' decal on helmet
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
September 30, 2004
If Jake Plummer continues paying tribute to his former college and pro teammate Pat Tillman by wearing a "40" decal on his helmet, he soon could be paying through the nose.
Plummer, the Broncos starting quarterback and twice a former teammate of the late Tillman, was in violation of the NFL's uniform code when he donned the sticker during the Broncos' victory Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
His helmet still is emblazoned with Tillman's former uniform number.
Plummer said after practice Wednesday he hadn't been informed of a fine yet, likely $5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for a second. But the league is promising to take action if he continues to ignore its call to desist, and might already have levied a fine through his agent.
"We will enforce our rule," NFL vice president of public relations Greg Aiello said.
All of the league's teams in Week 2 wore the "40" decal for Tillman, who was killed in the spring in combat in Afghanistan. Only the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman's former team, are slated to wear the decal all season.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Derek Smith, like Plummer, a former Arizona State teammate of Tillman's, petitioned the league last week to allow a personal continuation of the tribute.
The league declined, and Smith removed the "40" for the 49ers game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Plummer proceeded despite the denial.
"It's between me and the league right now," said Plummer, who also spent four seasons with Tillman (1998-2001) with the Cardinals. "We are working out something. They don't want us wearing that."
Plummer spoke of possible conciliation with the league "that won't infringe upon the NFL logo, their uniform codes," while continuing to honor his friend's memory "for the rest of the year."
"As long as I play, I will continue to do that," he added.
But any negotiations in that regard came as news to Aiello, who said, "I'm not familiar with any compromise."
The case is similar to one in September 2002, when Colts quarterback Peyton Manning wanted to wear high-top shoes as a nod to Johnny Unitas, who had died. The league also rejected that notion, and Manning went back to Indianapolis' usual white cleats.
"The rule is players can't use the uniform for personal tributes because there would be no place to draw the line," Aiello said. "There are certainly many ways for players to honor Pat Tillman than putting something on an NFL helmet."
Aiello also pointed out that Tillman has been recognized several times since his death, including at the draft, the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony and the season-opening kickoff show in addition to Week 2.
"I'm not going to fight the NFL about it," Plummer said.
