Oakland Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour has been fined $7,500 for pulling the hair of Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady on Sunday, a cheap shot that Seymour proudly described afterward as "no mistake."
Seymour showed no remorse afterward: When a reporter asked him whether he might have accidentally gotten his hand caught up in Clady's dreadlocks, Seymour said, "It was no mistake." When he was then pressed to explain, Seymour said, "It wasn't no mistake, brother. Next question."
During play on the field, a player's hair is considered the same as his jersey, so it's not a personal foul to pull an opponent's hair. But pulling hair after a play is against the rules -- and obviously against any concept of what constitutes good sportsmanship -- and Seymour is lucky to get off with such a relatively small fine.
Do you think a $7,500 fine is sufficient punishment? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
10-03-2009 @ 9:43AM
Stevo said...
this is news? this a hole has been doing this for years now
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 5:43PM
pugz said...
that's the kind of sportsmanship and respect they teach up there in N.E.
10-03-2009 @ 6:05PM
johnb said...
Richard Seymour plays likes a little girl and i am sure a little girl could kick his girly azz.
No doubt thats something he learned in New England playing under Bill Bill-A-Cheat !!!!
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 9:12PM
matty00000 said...
You are a complete clown. Idiot.
10-03-2009 @ 11:36AM
Magic said...
the hair if it is hanging outside the helmet is perfectly legal to pull or tackle a player to the ground, all these corn rows hanging outside of helmets looks stupid anyways good for seymour
Reply
10-04-2009 @ 11:48AM
mrprtysdawg said...
Your kidding right? it is perfectly legal to tackle or pull a player to the ground? I thought that was called holding
10-04-2009 @ 12:11PM
Michael said...
it was a rule that the hair was part of the uniform and could be used to tackle a player
10-04-2009 @ 1:14PM
thegambler2000 said...
YOU MUST BE A FADER FAN. NO I DID NOT MEAN A RAIDER FAN I MEANT A FADER FAN CUZ A RAIDER FAN WOULD TAKE THE LOSS LIKE A MAN BUT A FADER FAN TAKES A LOSS LIKE A SORE LOSER. A CRY BABY.
10-03-2009 @ 11:38AM
jhbonz said...
Hair should not stick out of a helmet.
Reply
10-04-2009 @ 7:56AM
fentex5 said...
It's as simple as this. If a player's hair is flowing down his back--often covering his name and/or number on the back of the jersey--it becomes part of the uniform. It is, therefore, fair game to be used while tackling or blocking the player. I have advocated for a long time that a rule should be made specifying that a player's hair should not extend beyond the top of the shoulders. This does not in any way restrict what length a player's hair can be. This merely states that longer hair should be contained within the helmet. If I were a player going for a tackle of an opponent with dreadlock extensions hanging out of his helmet, I would definitely reach for that nest of snakes to pull him to the ground. He's waving that meass at me as if to say: "Look at me". So, I will gladly acknowledge the invitation to pay attention to his idea of a fashion statement. I should mention that I don't limit my opinions to playeres with dreadlocks. There are also players of other ethnic origins who wear long hair flowing out of the helmets, and down their backs. I see excesses like this as taunting gestures that deserve to be noticed in the most football-like manner.
10-03-2009 @ 1:39PM
Rick said...
I thought there was a rule about the hair sticking out why dont they use it.The idiot on the steelers is obscene.If I was playing I would make it a point to drag these guys down by their hair
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 5:40PM
cjgdnight said...
yep you would do it ONCE, then the ambulance would come get you.
10-04-2009 @ 6:30AM
What's up John said...
Rick I didn't know you played for the STEELERS....Because you are the only idiot in what you write.
10-04-2009 @ 12:38PM
Betty said...
Troy Palamalu wears his hair long for religious reasons. He is from Samoa. I don't know what religion he is, but I know our team is suffering not having him play because of his injury. And he certanly is not an idiot...........he is a soft-spoken, very giving man...........T.O. is a perfect example of an idiot so is Chad Whatshisname of the Bengals.
10-03-2009 @ 4:52PM
Bob said...
I didn't know that women were allowed to wear long hair while playing in the NFL?
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 4:56PM
pgrevers said...
hair like that invites these kinds of attacks, it surprises me nobody has done it before,(as blatant) atleast. the guys wearing the locks should be punished because the hide part of their uniforms, so you can not touch them, legaly???
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 4:59PM
smag45 said...
I have been a raider fan since a young kid...I am now almost 60...when the hell is Al going to resign an let someone who knows football do the job???
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 5:10PM
Bubbameister33 said...
Internet tough guy.
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 5:17PM
Tom said...
Poor baby Seymour is still upset because the best coach in all of football cut his a and sent him where he belongs to a patsy team. Oh yeah was that Bellicek's cheating team that went 16-0 Hmmm ironic the guy who started it all Mangeni is caught at hiding stuff also. GO PATS
Reply
10-03-2009 @ 5:42PM
cjgdnight said...
Yeah the PATS are tearing it up this year... look like a super bowl team to me!!!!!! LOLOLOL!