Urlacher Fined $100,000 by NFL

[Roman529]

Urlacher fined $100,000 for Super Bowl hat
April 18, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL for wearing a cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted a sponsor not authorized by the league.
NFL rules prohibit gear that advertises any product but a designated sponsor, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday.
Urlacher was fined for drinking vitaminwater and wearing a vitaminwater hat during the media session in Miami leading to the title game. Gatorade is the NFL's official drink.
McCarthy said this is the first time such a fine has been levied. He added that $100,000 is the standard fine for such a violation at the Super Bowl. A violation during the regular season is $10,000. It is $50,000 at the Pro Bowl. The fine recalls an episode involving Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon in the playoffs following the 1985 season, the previous time the Bears made the Super Bowl. McMahon wore a headband that said "adidas" in a playoff game against the New York Giants, and then-commissioner Pete Rozelle fined him $5,000 because the shoe company was not an NFL sponsor.....

 

[PrepDogg]

That's just stupid IMO.

 

[Dolfan5000]

That's just stupid IMO.

Not when it's a business. You like losing money to a fellow competitor (Gatorade losing it to Vitamin Water)?

These guys are proffesionals and it's a privelege whenever they get a chance to talk to the media like they do.

 

[Vertical Limit]

If he was just wearing a hat just to wear the hat, then I understand why some would think this fine is stupid. But to wear a hat in the purpose of promoting, come on.

 

[Dolfan5000]

If he was just wearing a hat just to wear the hat, then I understand why some would think this fine is stupid. But to wear a hat in the purpose of promoting, come on.

Regardless of his intent he should've been more aware about that type of thing. He's been in the league long enough to know what type of a business it is.

 

[UltraDol-Fan]

I can see both sides of this. If Urlacher gets a deal with Vitamin water to wear a hat, he should be able to do that. On the other hand I don't want to see the players turn into walking billboards. I know it's annoying when I watch poker on ESPN everyone has on some shirt or hat with parypoker.net, blah blah.