NFL to allow players to wear more customized cleats

The NFL is lifting their ban on customized cleats and will allow players to wear their own creations next season.

Over the past few years, the NFL has been referred to as the “No-Fun League” more than the “National Football League.” Well, this offseason they are doing their best to bring some fun back into the NFL.

In May, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that celebrations are back. Players will now be allowed to use the ball as a prop, go to the ground and celebrate as a group. These celebrations will now be taking place in customized cleats.

According to a memo sent out by the NFL and obtained by ESPN, players will be allowed to wear personalized cleats for pregame and will have more options of colors to wear during games.

Players will now be able to wear any cleats they want during pregame warmups as long as they don’t depict trademarked logos, anything offensive or anything expressing political views.

The footwear war between players and the NFL has been going on for awhile and many fines have been handed out over previously illegal cleats. New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. wore cleats honoring Craig Sager last season and was fined $18,000 because of them. Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins received a $6,000 fine after wearing Kanye West’s Yeezy Boost 350 cleats.

It is pointless to fine players for expressing their creativity or for honoring something. The NFL caught a lot of heat when they fined a number of players for wearing cleats honoring 9/11. Under the new rules, all of these will now be legal.

Fines were also given out if players wore cleats that their team did not declare as the dominant footwear color. That will also change under this new rules as players will be allowed to wear any colors.

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Sports are entertainment and the NFL is arguably the most popular league in the country. Fans love to watch players celebrate after touchdowns and see what creative outfits they wear before the game and after. It is about time the NFL has realized this and lightened up on their rules.

It is safe to say that we can expect a lot of flashy new footwear this upcoming season from some of the NFL’s flashiest players.