In the wake of Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest, another group of NFL players may be punished for their patriotism if it violates the current uniform policy. For the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attack, a various players wanted to wear commemorative tribute gloves and cleats featuring stars and stripes along with the phrase “9.11 Never Forget.” When the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association learned that Tennessee Titan linebacker Avery Williamson was threatened with fines for wearing his tribute cleats, they released the following statement,
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.”