OK, I know Bob Seger didn’t have Joshua Cribbs or Troy Polamalu in mind when he wrote those lyrics for “You’ll Accomp’ny Me.” But watching the Browns’ punt returner (Cribbs) and the Steelers’ safety (Polamalu) really brings those words to life.
Last week at the NFL owners’ meetings in Palm Springs, Florida, the assembled brass briefly considered quashing that image to improve the league’s overall image. As they considered such ethical issues as illegal taping and whistleblower provisions to protect anyone reporting illegal activity in the NFL, they discussed another weighty issue: hair. That’s right. Taking a page from the NBA’s handbook, the NFL now wants to ramp up its own image.
Never mind dogfighting, gambling, domestic abuse, and illegal drugs — and, granted, Commissioner Goodell has taken a hard stance against wayward players. But hair? Maybe it bothers me just because it is being framed as an image issue and not a safety concern.
That’s where good public relations comes in. Know how to frame your issue to get the most support. I cringe every time I think of one of my favorite players, Cribbs, getting yanked down by his hair by some mean, nasty Steeler (sorry, Bill). I think hair being used as a take-down tool is a big safety concern. So why isn’t it framed like that rather than an image issue?
I personally think Cribbs and Polamalu look kind of cute with all that hair. Yep, I said it. Even a mean, nasty Steeler can look cute (kinda). But I am concerned for their safety and well-being. Herm Edwards, the Chief’s head coach, was at the forefront of this long-hair-image-issue last week. Edwards said he was raised in a military home where rules and image were important. I have no problem with that.
But frame this issue for what it should be — a safety concern. I think the NFL, who delayed action on the issue until meeting with the players’ union later this year, would get more support for that position.
April 23, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I agree 100 percent. The NBA had a hard enough time a few years back adopting a league dress code, but succeeded because most agreed the league needed to adopt a more professional image. The NFL on the other hand, seems to maintain the best reputation in all of professional sports, despite its own problems (take most of the Bengals roster for example). If the NFL frames this issue around image, it will be criticized for coming down on individuality and self-expression and probably face tough opposition. If safety is the focal point of the hair debate, it could make cracking down on long hair tough to argue against. Presenting the issue in the name of the safety is definitely the way to go.
April 23, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Although Patty raises an excellent point for the need of safety in sports, the fact that this issue is being driven as an image issue instead of a safety one makes perfect sense for a nation in which IMAGE IS EVERYTHING. Should Herm Edwards present this to the board as a safety issue, he would be seen as soft by the fans who enjoy the rough-and-tumble world of NFL football. As we can clearly see with the upcoming presidential elections, taking the soft side of issues is definitly not the way to get your issue heard. I think Edwards is smart to use the image tactic is today’s society, and should he happen to use the safety positives of hair trimming as a secondary boost than so be it. Personally, I enjoyed the varsity basketball players who were forced to were shirts and ties on game days in high school. It was nice to see respectable young men looking dapper. Who knows? Polamalu might still look pretty cute all cleaned up as well.