National Football League Dress Code coming soon?

David Stern, National Basketball Association Commissioner, has made it clear to NBA players that a dress code is needed to help improve the league’s image. He’s trying to do away with players wearing clothes that make them appear to be right out of rap video.

Last year’s battle royal between the Pacers and the Pistons sent a clear and concise message that the NBA is lacking discipline, leadership, and a code of conduct. Most importantly, though, the NBA is lacking maturity, and that’s what happens when you allow young men barely out of high school into the league and ultimately represent it.

Will the National Football League institute a similar policy? Does NFL Commission Paul Tagliabue feel the need to institute a dress code because of recent issues involving NFL players?

During any off-season, we can read about any number of issues related to the conduct of NFL players stemming from Domestic Violence, Assault, crimes related to drugs and alcohol, and more, therefore, 2 questions should be answered; should the NFL adopt a dress code policy and how will a dress code prevent or deter criminal or unethical behavior?

The answer is that forcing dress codes won’t do anything to prevent anymore criminal or unethical behavior. Forcing individuals to wear suits does nothing but take away a person’s right to express themselves, and that is unacceptable in a democratic society.

There are other reasons that we wear clothing such as comfort, style, how it makes us feel and more. To force players to wear suits is down right ridiculous, furthermore, to try and convince us that it will help improve someone’s image is even more absurd. Fact is that regardless of what someone is wearing, it isn’t going to make one’s behavior improve.

There are criminals on Wall Street and in other White Collar Lines of Businesses (LOBs) that wear suits daily to work and it doesn’t stop them from conducting criminal or unethical behavior. Don’t tell the federal investigators working the Enron Case that wearing suits improves the image criminal behavior because they will find you comical.

While in the office or on the job, in most LOBs, yes, there is an expectation to look professional or wear attire that is the “dress of the day,” however, once someone leaves their place of employment, there isn’t any kind of precedent that says that one can’t dress according to their wishes, regardless of one’s economic status.

What next, will the NBA hire investigators to spy on what Allen Iverson is wearing while out shopping? The very notion sounds absurd, however, if the NBA is serious about enforcing a dress code, anything is likely when it comes to enforcing it.

Once a player has competing in a game and the uniform of the day is put away until the following game, they should be able to wear what they want so long as it isn’t “offensive to the community.” Earrings, watches, necklaces, braids it doesn’t matter. Players should be able to dress according to their wishes, unless they’ve agreed to it in their contracts.

Many NFL and NBA players have Nike, Reebok, and other merchandise contracts to wear certain brands and clothing lines, therefore, if forced to wear professional looking attire, could be in direct violation of those binding agreements.

We kindly ask you, Mr. Tagliabue, not to follow the lead of the NBA, and continue being the quality leader that you are, and never adopt a uniform dress code.

Often imitated, never duplicated
-NFL Smackdown