Titans RB Chris Johnson okay with being tackled by his hair
By Mike Dyce
In the NFL, getting tackled by your hair if it is flowing out of your helmet is perfectly legal because it is considered part of the uniform. Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin tacked Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington by his hair earlier this season.
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson understands it is part of the game and is okay with being tackled by his hair, though he’d prefer not to be.
“[I]t’s a part of the game,” Johnson said, via Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. “Guys with hair in the league, they know that is something you have to deal with. It hurts really bad, I do know that. But guys will do whatever they have to do.”
Safety Michael Griffin agreed that is fair game.
“If I try and grab the shoulder pads or try and grab the jersey, sometimes the hair is going to get in the way,” said Griffin. “There’s ways around it — if you put it in a ponytail, it makes it a harder target to grab. But it’s a part of the body. If a guy has a wristband on, you’ll try and grab that. Whatever you can get a hold of.”