Biography
Others Talk About
NFL DENIES REQUEST BY 49ER TO KEEP TILLMAN HELMET DECAL
September 23, 2004
By Dennis Georgatos - Mercury News
49ers linebacker Derek Smith wants to honor the late Pat Tillman by continuing to wear a No. 40 decal on the back of his helmet, but the NFL won't let him.
The request by Smith was rejected as a violation of the league's uniform code.
"Our longstanding policy prohibits putting on personal messages, no matter how worthy the cause may be,'' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday. "He can certainly find other ways to honor Pat Tillman.''
Smith, a friend and former teammate of Tillman at Arizona State, plans to honor him by writing No. 40 on a piece of tape and affixing it to his face mask. He also is growing his hair long in the fashion once favored by Tillman. Tillman, who walked away from a career with the Arizona Cardinals to join the U.S. Army Rangers, was killed in action in April in Afghanistan.
Sunday, as part of a league-wide tribute to Tillman, all players wore the helmet decal during their games. His No. 40 jersey also was retired by the Cardinals during an emotional halftime ceremony attended by Tillman's family. However, only the Cardinals' players are allowed to keep wearing the decal this season.
"I don't agree with that. It shouldn't be limited just to the Cardinals,'' Smith said. "He was part of the NFL and I played with him at ASU. There's other guys that played with him, too, and I think those guys should be allowed to wear it as well.
"It's not like it's taking away from anything. It's not taking away from any of Reebok's money. It's not taking away from the NFL uniform at all. It's just paying tribute.''
Under threat of a $5,000 fine by the league, Smith said he's reluctantly abiding by the NFL's decision, which was relayed to him by equipment manager Steve Urbaniak. Urbaniak had contacted league officials this week on Smith's behalf, seeking permission to wear the decal.
Explaining the league's decision, Aiello added that the NFL is working with Tillman's family to channel proceeds from the sale of Tillman jerseys to Tillman's foundation.
Smith said more should be done in Tillman's memory.
Along with his agent, Frank Bauer, who also represented Tillman, Smith said he suggested months ago to the league and to the NFL Players Association that the Pat Tillman Foundation be included on the list of charities benefiting from the collection of player fines.
"Nothing's come of it, as far as I know," Smith said.
The NFL typically collects several hundred thousand dollars a year in player fines. The league, in conjunction with the union, distributes the money to a player-assistance fund as well as to charities funding youth education and sports-related medical research.
Aiello said the NFL would welcome discussing with the union any modifications to the program, including the possibility of designating Tillman's foundation as a beneficiary. Carl Francis, a spokesman for the NFLPA, did not return a phone call seeking comment.