NFL Fines Ryan Clark $5K for Honoring Sean Taylor, Violating Uniform Dress Code

Oh, the humanity. The NFL continues its assault on common sense and decency, as they flippantly hand out player punishments for any number of absurd transgressions.

The latest scrapbook entry involves Steelers safety Ryan Clark, the former Redskins player who was very close to the late Sean Taylor. Via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

...Clark revealed that he was fined $5,000 by the NFL for wearing eye black with the No. 21 etched into it Sunday. Clark said he did it to honor his late Redskins teammate Sean Taylor, who was murdered in his Florida home last year. Clark, who wears No. 25, wears a No. 21 practice jersey in honor of Taylor. Clark said he will continue to wear the eye black with "21" in it.

I understand that uniforms must conform to certain league guidelines, but at what point does somebody in the NFL Gestapo offices stop and think that fining a player for wearing two-inch-high numbers on his face to honor a fallen teammate could be a public relations disaster.

Yeah, we get it: the NFL will cease to exist as we know it if rules aren't followed TO THE LETTER. Repercussions and consequences and whatnot. The thing is, Commissar Goodell and his minions are already over-legislating, and when it takes Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (who I just figured was a mute because he never seems to talk) to point out that tackle football has become a "pansy game," well, it might be time to re-evaluate things.

Maybe the league should set up a hotline to educate players on which disgusting acts constitute punishable offenses, and those that are just in bad taste. Oh, and don't forget to actually staff the phone banks this time.

Jeebus already.

Life in the No Fun League'

Steelers safety Ryan Clark was fined $5,000 by the NFL for wearing eye black with the No. 21 etched into it. Clark said he did it to honor his late Redskins teammate Sean Taylor, who was murdered in his Florida home last year. Is the NFL overstepping its bounds with unnecessary fines? Click through to see other past policy offenders and decide for yourself.

Gene J. Puskar, AP

Culprit: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
What He Did: Played the bongo drums on the sideline after a 66-yard TD run
NFL Fined Him: $10,000

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

Culprit: Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins
What He Did: Performed a choreographed "Cupid Shuffle" dance with teammates
NFL Fined Them: $10,000 each

Doug Benc, Getty Images

Culprit: Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
What He Did: Mocked the Patriots' Spygate scandal by using the football to simulate a camera
NFL Fined Him: $7,500

Eliot J. Schechter, Getty Images

Culprit: Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
What He Did: Went through warm-ups before a game with an "Ocho Cinco" label on his jersey
NFL Fined Him: $5,000

Al Behrman, AP

Culprit: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
What He Did: Posed with teammate Quintin Demps after a 68-yard punt return TD
NFL Fined Them: $10,000 each

Tom Mihalek, AP

Culprit: Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
What He Did: Taunted Bears defenders before somersaulting in for an 88-yard TD reception
NFL Fined Him: $5,000

Getty Images (2)

Culprit: Atlanta Falcons
What They Did: Used posters and uniform modifications to show support for banished QB Michael Vick
NFL Fined Them: A total of $47,500

Chris Graythen, Getty Images

Culprit: Terrell Owens, formerly with the San Francisco 49ers
What He Did: Ran from the end zone to midfield and celebrated on the Cowboys' famous star logo
The 49ers Fine Him: $24,000 along with a one-week suspension

Vern Steinman, AP

Culprit: Joe Horn, formerly with the New Orleans Saints
What He Did: Pulled out a cell phone from inside the goal post padding during a TD celebration
NFL Fined Him: $30,000

Chris Graythen, Getty Images