Williams was fined for having “We will find a cure” and the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon on his eye black in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, specifically in recognition of his mother’s battle with breast cancer.
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According to ESPN, Williams has been wearing this message on his eye black for five years and this is the first time he’s faced a fine for it.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams and cornerback William Gay were reportedly fined more than $5,700 each by the National Football League for apparent violations of the uniform guidelines during Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
William Gay takes the field. He told Kinkhabwala, “I broke the rule,” and hopes the fine will be donated to a domestic violence cause. He likely won’t get that wish, though.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which the NFL recognizes by putting pink accents on gear worn by players and coaches for all 32 teams around the league.
After Steelers’ defensive lineman Cameron Heyward was fined earlier this month for paying tribute to his late father with words on his eye black, his teammate, DeAngelo Williams was fined for an equally idiotic reason. League fines go to assist former players in need through the NFL Player Care Foundation and the NFLPA’s Player Assistance Trust.
Instead, Heyward wore eye black in Week 7 that read “Tackle Cancer” because it was made available to players by the National Football League, according to Fowler.
Heyward appealed his fines, and the league significantly reduced his total of $17,363 for two offenses under the stipulation Heyward support his father in other ways, which he’s now doing through charitable work.
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Apparently the league isn’t against eye black messages supporting cancer, as long as that eye black is provided by the league.
