According to The Wall Street Journal roughly 10 percent of NFL players have long-hair. And 104 of the 164 long-haired players are on the defensive side of the ball.
One reason for that is it’s legal to tackle a guy by his wig. Remember when Larry Johnson dragged Troy Polamalu down by the mane?
It probably hurt like a sonofabitch but Troy didn’t cut his hair. Not when it can make him easy money in shampoo commercials.
More NFL Players Are Letting Their Hair Down[The Wall Street Journal]
I’m not for someone that tackle a player by his hair – it’s pure cowardy – but I’m 100% for any player that wear hair long! Argentina’s soccer players, Troy Polamalu, Ronaldinho [Brazil], Alain Sutter [1998 World Cup] are the best for two reasons: great ability and besides, they’re “irreprochables” men. Their long hair is a great presence of mind, it makes them look a hundred times mature and clever, than short haired ones – requiring short hair on players mean an idle talk!
I say if a player has the nerve to grow his hair out, then he’s fair game for any player on the field to tackle him by it. The problem is that players won’t tackle by the hair. If they did, there would be less of it on the field. The NFL has become a bunch of wimps on the field, afraid to tackle by any means necessary to bring down the guy with the football or even block out. As long as its legal to tackle by the hair, go for it. Use that tool.