Big hairy deal

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- One of the most frivolous items on the agenda for the NFL meeting this week is getting the most attention.

It is the Kansas City Chiefs’ proposal to prohibit players’ hair from obstructing their nameplate of jersey number.

Kansas City will present the proposal Tuesday morning. Player safety is believed to be a part of the proposal.

“I know we got into the whole issue many years ago, when we went through the skull cap vs. bandanna, and I don’t remember safety playing into that, but I think this (proposal) is different,” said Falcons president Rich McKay, co-chair of the competition committee.

“I don’t want to speak for them, but I don’t think they’re intending for someone to cut their hair.”

Several NFL players, including an increasing number of Samoans who celebrate their heritage, wear their hair long and flowing from beneath their helmets.

Bengals defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene and Domata Peko, like Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, have Samoan roots.

Peko’s bushy mane does cover his nameplate and partially obstructs his No. 94.

"I’m going to do whatever they want,” Peko said tonight. “But it will be a disappointment to me and other Samoan players. It is part of our culture."

Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has worn a pony tail while on the field.
The competition committee has discussed hair previously.

"There was this concern, were you allowed to tackle them?” McKay said. “And we said yes. You can’t have a guy who grabs up there and gets a penalty because he grabs hair."

QUESTION: What do you think of the hair issue? Much ado about nothing? A good idea?

Elsewhere on the agenda for the league meeting, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will make his annual report to the 32 teams at 9 Monday morning.

Three executive sessions, with two members of each organization in attendance, will be held Monday, as well.

A proposal to re-seed teams for the playoffs, though interesting, doesn’t seem likely to pass. The four division winners in each the American and National conference get home games. The proposal, designed to give teams more to play for late in the season, would give just two division winners with the top records the automatic home games. Seeds 3-6 would be awarded to the teams with the best records, possibly giving a wildcard team a home game.