The NFL is usually so strict about wearing only authorized apparel that players get fined for infractions as innocuous as wearing socks of the wrong color, or even for trying to bring attention to a good cause with a particular color of shoes. But the league has apparently given Cardinals coach Bruce Arians a free pass.
Arians wore a Kangol hat, rather than an NFL-licensed cap, during Thursday night’s game against the Vikings. He told Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio today that he hasn’t been fined “yet” for that offense.
Arians said he wore the hat to bring attention to Voices for CASA Children, a charitable organization that the Arians Family Foundation awarded a $150,000 donation. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic previously reported that the NFL won’t fine Arians for wearing the cap.
Declining to fine Arians is the right move, but it would be nice to see the NFL extend that common-sense approach to players who have asked to do things like wear purple shoes for domestic violence awareness. Some of the players who have been fined for uniform violations may wonder why Arians is getting a pass.