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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

49ers QB Alex Smith told to get rid of S.F. Giants’ cap

No Freak League strikes again!.

Alex Smith often showed up for last season’s post-game press conferences wearing a San Francisco Giants cap. If the 49ers quarterback does so again, he says he’ll be fined $15,000 by the NFL.

The reason: A Giants cap constitutes non-sponsored gear, and players must abide by the NFL’s dress code 90 minutes before and after each game.

One proposed solution: Have the Giants fund that post-game attire for such a loyal fan.

“Yeah, can you call Larry Baer for me?” Smith asked reporters in reference to the Giants’ chief executive.

Smith said the league retracted an initial fine of $15,000 and instead issued him a warning to discontinue such headgear. The man who imposes such fines: former 49ers safety Merton Hanks, who works in the league office.

Repoz Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:25 PM | 35 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: giants

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1. Boogie Nights Powell Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:34 PM (#4240491)

Para-phrasing Ball Four: You couldn't pull a needle out of the NFL's uptight ass with a tractor.

2. Gamingboy Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:38 PM (#4240499)

If the 49ers quarterback does so again, he says he’ll be fined $15,000 by the NFL.

I bet a Giants player (*Cough* Brian Wilson *Cough) would pay that for him.

3. The Chronicles of Reddick Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:38 PM (#4240500)

The NFL makes the KGB look like a fraternity.

4. Tom Nawrocki Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:40 PM (#4240505)

You'd think Smith could get Merton Hanks to stick his neck out for a fellow 49er.

5. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:40 PM (#4240506)

The man who imposes such fines: former 49ers safety Merton Hanks

I hope the chicken dance was sponsored and NFL-approved.

6. The Chronicles of Reddick Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:44 PM (#4240509)

coming next to the NFL, "This concussion timeout brought to you by the makers of sleep tight cold medicine. For those times where you need to be lights out!" Anything to make a buck with those clowns.

7. Gamingboy Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:44 PM (#4240510)

An interesting thought: What if Eli Manning wore a vintage NY Giants cap?

8. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:47 PM (#4240513)

You'd think Smith could get Merton Hanks to stick his neck out for a fellow 49er.

Knowing this crowd and not being much of a football fan, I had to run to Wikipedia real quick to make sure Hanks wasn't Darryl Stingley'd or something during his career.

9. zenbitz Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:49 PM (#4240515)

@8 he does have an extremely long neck.

10. Repoz

Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:50 PM (#4240516)

What if Eli Manning wore a vintage NY Giants cap?

Uhh, he'd still have that delightful Teixieraian douchecanoe look?

11. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: September 19, 2012 at 06:59 PM (#4240531)

What a bunch of corporate a$$holes.

12. nick swisher hygiene Posted: September 19, 2012 at 07:04 PM (#4240534)

jesus could someone just make the NFfuckingL #### off and die?

13. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: September 19, 2012 at 07:05 PM (#4240537)

@8 he does have an extremely long neck.

I always thought Hanks looked like he should be playing in the Bud Bowl.

14. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 19, 2012 at 07:25 PM (#4240557)

. . . players must abide by the NFL’s dress code 90 minutes before and after each game.

Just keep the helmet on.

15. DJ Funky and the Smile Time Variety Players Posted: September 19, 2012 at 08:17 PM (#4240597)

I always thought Hanks looked like he should be playing in the Bud Bowl.

I don't think any human has a longer neck than the 3rd QB for the Titans, Rusty Smith

16. PreservedFish Posted: September 19, 2012 at 08:34 PM (#4240604)

That guy does have a long neck. The beady eyes make it even longer. Extreme neck:eye ratio.

17. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: September 19, 2012 at 08:39 PM (#4240606)

Just keep the helmet on.

Ricky Williams already tried it. Didn't work too well.

18. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 19, 2012 at 08:52 PM (#4240616)

Ricky Williams already tried it. Didn't work too well.

He didn't try it with the helmet on backwards.

19. The District Attorney Posted: September 19, 2012 at 09:26 PM (#4240636)

Well, it's certainly not worse than MLB not wanting the Mets to wear NYPD/NYFD caps on Sep. 11.

20. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 19, 2012 at 09:32 PM (#4240642)

Pedro Ciriaco's up there in neck length.

21. Rouglas Odor Eaters Posted: September 19, 2012 at 10:22 PM (#4240678)

So a Giants hat made by New Era (assuming it is a 5950) is not permissible by a league that has an exclusive hat sponsorship deal with...New Era?

Did RG3 get in trouble yet for scribbling over the swoosh on his warmup t-shirts?

22. baerga1 Posted: September 19, 2012 at 10:55 PM (#4240707)

You do NOT want to be a pain in Merton Hanks' neck..

23. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: September 19, 2012 at 11:02 PM (#4240713)

He didn't try it with the helmet on backwards.

He probably did when he was high.

24. Rough Carrigan

Posted: September 19, 2012 at 11:03 PM (#4240714)

You guys are missing the even more ludicrous marketing gambit by the NFL. They run ads on the NFL network now in which they try to call them "football caps".

For a league with such a stupid fixation on official uniforms it's a bit disingenuous to slide past the point that those hats are part of the official game uniforms of MLB.

Nice try NFL. An actual "football cap" is a freaking helmet.

25. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: September 19, 2012 at 11:07 PM (#4240717)

Did Ben Sheets get fined for wearing a Saints helmet in the locker room talking to press after a game in Milwaukee?

26. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: September 19, 2012 at 11:14 PM (#4240724)

You guys are missing the even more ludicrous marketing gambit by the NFL. They run ads on the NFL network now in which they try to call them "football caps".

That's New Era calling it that, not the NFL.

27. Mirabelli Dictu (Chris McClinch) Posted: September 20, 2012 at 09:09 AM (#4240875)

You guys are missing the even more ludicrous marketing gambit by the NFL. They run ads on the NFL network now in which they try to call them "football caps".

For a league with such a stupid fixation on official uniforms it's a bit disingenuous to slide past the point that those hats are part of the official game uniforms of MLB.

Nice try NFL. An actual "football cap" is a freaking helmet.

I do think football caps are an ingenious solution to the problem of defensive players leading with the helmet. Spear-tackle someone or go helmet-to-helmet, and you've got a choice between sitting out the next game or playing it in a football cap.

28. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 20, 2012 at 09:56 AM (#4240923)

I don't think any human has a longer neck than the 3rd QB for the Titans, Rusty Smith

####### christ that's creepy. It looks like his head is photoshopped onto his body. My first thought when I saw it was Michael Keaton at the end of Beetlejuice when the head shrinker shrinks his head.

29. PepTech Posted: September 20, 2012 at 10:56 AM (#4240982)

I do think football caps are an ingenious solution to the problem of defensive players leading with the helmet. Spear-tackle someone or go helmet-to-helmet, and you've got a choice between sitting out the next game or playing it in a football cap.

But seriously - what is the rate of concussions in rugby compared to the NFL? Don't you learn pretty quick how to tackle without leading with your head in rugby? Sure, their ears are messed up, but what price glory?

I actually don't know the answer to the rugby concussion thing.

30. Ron J2 Posted: September 20, 2012 at 12:21 PM (#4241083)

Don't you learn pretty quick how to tackle without leading with your head in rugby?

Yes. What would be called a perfect form tackle in the NFL is a major foul (likely to get you tossed from the game) in rugby. No leading with the head. No high tackles. No driving and lifting the opponent while tackling.

As to concussion rates, most recent data (a 2008 study) says they're basically the same in rugby and football. Rugby has the extra risk of getting kicked in the head while on the ground to offset fewer direct blows to the head.

Rugby also seems to have the same issue with undiagnosed or improperly treated concussions that football does.

31. Ron J2 Posted: September 20, 2012 at 12:23 PM (#4241085)

As to the subject at hand. I see it pretty simply. The NFL signed a contract. They're getting some decent money from it and they're sticking to their bargain.

32. asinwreck Posted: September 20, 2012 at 07:19 PM (#4241596)

Bud called Goodell. Smith can keep the cap on if the Giants relinquish San Jose to Lew Wolff.

33. DJ Funky and the Smile Time Variety Players Posted: September 20, 2012 at 07:33 PM (#4241604)

####### christ that's creepy. It looks like his head is photoshopped onto his body. My first thought when I saw it was Michael Keaton at the end of Beetlejuice when the head shrinker shrinks his head.

It's not an anomalous photograph, either. Smith also makes a mockery of the mock turtleneck, which fails to even slightly suggest a regular turtleneck.

34. Greg Pope thinks the Cubs are reeking havoc Posted: September 20, 2012 at 07:47 PM (#4241614)

There was some NBA player a number of years back who had a long neck and a large head. I don't remember the exact details but it was something like he measured 6'8" but his shoulders were at the height of a 6'6" player. Since the important part of height is how high you can lift your arms and things like that, the guy never played as well as you'd expect for a 6'8" guy. Can't remember who it was...

35. Boileryard Posted: September 20, 2012 at 08:45 PM (#4241653)

Bruce Bochy wore a 49ers cap today during a media scrum in support of Alex Smith.

In other news, there are 49ers caps that fit Bruce Bochy.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

49ers QB Alex Smith told to get rid of S.F. Giants’ cap

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