The NFL has decided to not allow the Dallas Cowboys to wear “arm in arm” decals for their preseason and regular season (and possibly postseason) games honoring the five Dallas police officers who were killed during a #BlackLivesMatter protest on July 7th in the wake of the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, prompting outrage from the usual suspects on the right and the #BlueLivesMatter crowd.
Tim Cowlishaw: It's an unpopular opinion (not my first) but I think the NFL made the right call. There's a way to honor these men without a decal on the helmet. If you allow that, do you allow decals saying Black Lives Matter? Pro Life? Pro Choice? Repeal Obamacare? John 3:16? Where does it end? I think there's a place for protest and there's a place to honor victims in different ways. I understand the NFL's reluctance to open this door.
KMOV, via Raycom News Network:
The NFL is well-known for its refusal of anything worn outside its approved uniform policy, no matter the cause. The league does allow teams to wear patches honoring people associated with the team.
In 2015, Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams was denied when he asked to wear pink all season to honor his mother, who died of breast cancer. Players wear pink in October to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Tadd Haislop at Sporting News:
There's nothing fun about breast cancer, domestic violence, mental illness or national tragedy. Unfortunately, their recognition falls under the umbrella that is policy violation. Unfortunately, according to the policy, their recognition is viewed the same as that of non-sanctioned apparel brands, inadequate sock height, baseball caps and T-shirts without team logos.
The NFL is the definition of a control freak. The question is why, and the answers are theoretical.
But those who declined the Cowboys' request to wear honorary decals were in the right. It's the policy under which they acted that's wrong.
On today’s edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show, Rush Limbaugh falsely claims that the denial of the helmet patch means that “NFL won’t honor cops.” He also took a swipe at the 5 St. Louis Rams (now LA Rams) players who did the Hands Up, Don’t Shoot pose (Note to Rushbo: they all played on offense [4 of whom are wideouts and 1 of whom is a tight end], not defense).
The Rams, now in Los Angeles, are the Cowboys’ first preseason opponent tomorrow.
The Dallas Cowboys want to put a decal, it's -- by the way it's not provocative, it's a circle. And it's got some designation of honor, it, five cops. It honors five cops who died. It doesn't honor anybody else. It honors the five cops who died. Well, you don't think some left-wing activist groups could have a big problem with that and think "you know what, we're going to have to stir up some trouble here. They're honoring the cops cops, what about us?" That's what NFL is afraid of. They're afraid of Black Lives Matter. "What do you mean honoring the cops, the cops are the problem."Remember, that's the dogma of the left wing, the cops are the problem.
TMZ on Dallas Fallen Officer Association’s reaction to the decision denying helmet decals:
"The NFL had an opportunity to be leaders and advocates for change in law enforcement," Pennie says.
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"These are our friends and our loved ones ... it hurts to not have the NFL fully support us."
OXNARD, Calif. -- The Cowboys show of support and unity to open this camp, symbolized by the Arm in Arm decal, isn't diminished by the NFL's refusal to allow the players to display that decal on their helmets during games.
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"Our goal all along was to show support to the victim's families, the Dallas Police Department and to try to unite our community,'' said Witten, who spearheaded the event. "I understand the NFL has uniform rules and guidelines they have to follow, but that still doesn't mean we aren't going to support and honor our community and stand arm in arm with them now and in the future.
"The decal not being on the helmet is not going to stop that.''
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A response to the NFL's decision appeared on the Dallas Police Department's website Thursday. It read: "We appreciate the support of the Cowboys organization and its players. Their concern for the families of our fallen officers, the Dallas Police Department, and the City of Dallas is what matters most, and we know that support will continue for the immediate and long term future.''