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Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is known as much for the long hair that goes halfway down his back as for anything else. But Polamalu and other NFL players may soon be banned from exposing long hair on the field.Adam Schefter reported on NFL Network that the NFL's competition committee is considering a rule that would bar a player from wearing his hair long enough on the field to obscure his name on the back of his jersey. Players like Polamalu and Jaguars cornerback Rashaen Mathis would either need to get a haircut or figure out a way to stuff all that hair in their helmets throughout a game.
According to Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs proposed the rule change, perhaps motivated by the incident in October 2006, when Chiefs running back Larry Johnson pulled Polamalu's hair to drag him down from behind -- which is legal -- and then held onto the hair after both players hit the ground, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty.
Schefter reports that the Chiefs have argued that the hair requirement should be enforced as a uniform violation, similar to the league's requirements that players wear their socks a certain way. But there's also some support for the rules change from league insiders who believe it's unsafe to have players running around with hair hanging out their helmet.
The 32 teams are expected to vote on the proposed rules change at the league meeting at the end of the month.
Latest NFL Photos
** FILE ** Denver Broncos placekicker Jason Elam looks on before playing the Green Bay Packers in an NFL football game in Denver in this Oct. 29, 2007 file photo. Elam, who became a free agent at the end of last season, has agreed to terms on Friday, March 21, 2008, to kick for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 NFL season. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)
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** FILE ** Denver Broncos placekicker Jason Elam, back, kicks a field goal with the help of holder Todd Sauerbrun against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Denver in this Oct. 29, 2007 file photo. Elam has agreed to terms on Friday, March 21, 2008, to kick for the Atlanta Falcons durinG the 2008 NFL season. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)
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Seattle Seahawks president Tim Ruskell, left, looks on as linebacker Lofa Tatupu speaks at the press conference announcing Tatupu's contract extension through the 2015 NFL football season on Friday, March 21, 2008 in Kirkland, Wash. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, right, talks about linebacker Lofa Tatupu, left, during a news conference announcing Tatupu's contract extension through the 2015 NFL football season Friday, March 21, 2008, in Kirkland, Wash. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu smiles at the press conference announcing his contract extension through the 2015 NFL football season on Friday, March 21, 2008 in Kirkland, Wash. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu, left, smiles as he shakes hands with head coach Mike Holmgren at the press conference announcing Tatupu's contract extension through the 2015 NFL football season on Friday, March 21, 2008 in Kirkland, Wash. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss gets emotional after being presented with a U.S. Postal Service envelope with his likeness, at the West Virginia Cultural Center in Charleston, W.Va., Friday, March 21, 2008. Moss is the third West Virginia athlete to be on a special Postal Service envelope. The others were Los Angeles Lakers' Jerry West and gold-medal Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton. (AP Photo/Bob Bird)
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New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss gets emotional after being presented with a U.S. Postal Service envelope with his likeness, at the West Virginia Cultural Center in Charleston, W.Va., Friday, March 21, 2008. Moss is the third West Virginia athlete to be on a special Postal Service envelope. The others were Los Angeles Lakers' Jerry West and gold-medal Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton. (AP Photo/Bob Bird)
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Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu smiles during a news conference announcing his contract extension through the 2015 NFL football season, Friday, March 21, 2008, in Kirkland, Wash. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Former Vanderbilt quarterback and current Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler throws to receiver Earl Bennett for NFL scouts in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 21, 2008. Cutler returned to Vanderbilt to help his former teammate Bennett prepare for the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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