Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson wore patriotic cleats despite the threat of a fine from the league.
Williamson, 24, planned to wear the shoes in honor of the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
However, an NFL representative told him that he could violate the league’s uniform code, and he would be fined, according to The Tennessean newspaper.
“The [Port Authority Police Benevolent Association] is the police department that has always patrolled the World Trade Center complex. On September 11, 2001, the PAPD lost 37 police officers at the World Trade Center, the largest, single loss ever suffered by a police department in the history of American law enforcement,” the union said in a statement.
“We read, with understandable interest, your piece on Avery Williamson and the NFL’s stance on Avery honoring the September 11th victims. We, along with the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association, are offering to pay any reasonable fine levied by the NFL if Avery chooses to wear his 9/11 cleats,” it added, according to NBC’s ProFootballTalk.
