Should the NFL Force Troy Polamalu and Others to Cut Their Long Hair?

A meeting of NFL executives appears aimed at discussing whether or not NFL players like the Pittsburgh Steelers' Troy Polamalu and the New England Patriots' Laurence Maroney can continue to grow their hair out and still play on Sundays with their locks flopping around under their helmets.

But is the rule fair or should hair be considered a form of personal expression that should not be regulated by the NFL's higher-ups?

If the rule is meant to squash such a form of personal expression then it is most definitely a bad idea. Sports are supposed to be fun at the end of the day; they are a children's means of entertainment at their core. Players like Maroney and Polamalu are simply trying to have fun and to make themselves stand out from the pack a little bit, or in Polamalu's case he is trying to respect a cultural tradition. It is a Samoan tradition to have men grow their hair out long and many Samoan players do it on the football field to honor their relatives and their history. Other players such as Floridians like Asante Samuel of the Patriots do it to represent their hometown styles of expression as well.

Visually, the NFL shouldn't care if these players aren't seen as being "business-like" by the general fan base because most fans seem to like the long hair and the way it represents youthful exuberance and keeps them fresh and easy-going.

If the hair is seen as a safety hazard, however, that is for the NFL to determine. In that case the league should conduct a thorough study as to whether or not the hair really is a risk. It would be possible for someone to grab the locks and hurt the opposing player but thus far it hasn't happened despite the large number of players who wear their hair out long.