Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson planned to wear special cleats on Sunday to commemorate the 15-year anniversary of 9/11. The NFL told him they'd fine him, as it would have violated the uniform code.
Now, the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association has offered to pay Williamson's fine in order for him to do so, via the Tennessean:
"The PAPD is the police department that has always patrolled the World Trade Center complex. On September 11, 2001, the PAPD lost 37 police officers at the World Trade Center, the largest, single loss ever suffered by a police department in the history of American law enforcement.
"We read, with understandable interest, your piece on Avery Williamson and the NFL's stance on Avery honoring the September 11th victims. We, along with the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association, are offering to pay any reasonable fine levied by the NFL if Avery chooses to wear his 9/11 cleats."
Williamson has already noted he doesn't want to "draw negative attention" and has already moved on from the idea of wearing the cleats.
How the NFL hasn't decided this is an exceptional circumstance and it should treat it as such is beyond us.
