The 2020 NFL Draft set to begin this week will look a bit different thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the National Football League is reportedly making sure that potential draftees who’ll be participating in the stay-at-home event are still going to be subject to some strict guidelines, including a dress code.
SUIT UP! The NFL issues a strict dress code to the football players participating in Thursday’s virtual draft. Do you think athletes should be allowed to dress down for the event? pic.twitter.com/0OoJhBxIdh
— Fox & Friends First (@FoxFriendsFirst) April 20, 2020
A memo to the players lists what is considered off-limits for those who will be participating. And while they don’t need to wear the suits normally expected, the NFL was making it clear that no political themes or references will be allowed, as reported by Pro Football Talk.
Clothing with “libel or hate speech” and any with “political statements” were listed as prohibited in the document, which also included no “racial, religious, or ethnic slurs,” no “explicit language” and no clothing that depicts “obscene, pornographic (or escort services), violent (including firearms or other weapons), or sexual imagery.”
“Do NOT have any products displaying brands or logos that have not been approved by the NFL within camera range of your feed for the NFL Draft broadcast,” the memo to the 58 players read, according to Darren Rovell of TheActionNetwork.com.
Players who do not want to comply with the list of rules can simply choose to refuse the invitation to the virtual broadcast of the draft.
But the NFL is also looking to “ensure that ts 50 official league sponsors and partners are protected and not ambushed by non-league partners,” according to Rovell who noted that, although the players haven’t yet signed any contracts, their appearance is “property of the NFL.”
Players appearing in the broadcast will reportedly be receiving a “welcome kit” instead of an appearance fee which will include PepsiCo products, Frito-Lay snacks, and Mars candy in an effort to steer clear of stepping on any of the league’s paid partnerships. The clothing worn by the players can only display logos of NFL teams or official partners like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour or New Era.
NFL prospects can’t wear clothing with “disparaging depictions of the NFL” or “derogatory statements regarding the NFL, its owners, employees and/or NFL partners,” according to the memo which also added no “references to movies, video games, and other media that contains or promotes objectionable material or subject matter.”
The league’s strict dress code is not new and previous punishments for players who wore symbolic colors on their socks and armbands, as well as issues over helmets, have unleashed criticism of the “No Fun League.” But with the controversies over the last few years over protesting players using the games and their uniforms to make political statements, as Colin Kaeprnick’s infamous kneeling during the national anthem, the league apparently wants to steer clear of any controversies that will affect the bottom line, especially with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The first round of the draft begins Thursday and Twitter users had some thoughts about the latest NFL guidelines.
Asking for a little professionalism and class really shouldn’t be a big deal.
— Eric Hovland (@EricJHovland) April 19, 2020
wonder how long it took to come up with that list? seems like it would have been easier to ship em all a “draftee” tee shirt to wear, or require plain t-shirts. the appearance of “choice” of apparel that pretty much takes it away.
— tami (@tamileesanders) April 19, 2020
Trying to stop “baby Kaepernicks”… Fair enough, it’s their product.
— TJStumpforCOS (@tj_cos) April 19, 2020
I love the NFL dress code for the virtual draft. I don’t want to see players political views. If they were there they’d be dressed way up. They don’t have to do that but be respectful of the event.
— Bobby T (@radiobobbyt) April 19, 2020
Good idea for dress code for NFL Draft. Look respectable for what you are earning. It is a business.
— Renee (@renee_miller2) April 20, 2020
It’s like any other interview. The difference is they don’t get fired for not following the rules, like standing during the national anthem.
— Linda Craig (@linda53585) April 20, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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