The NFL sometimes (ok, most of the time) stands for the No Fun League, and that is especially true when it comes to individual expression on the uniform front.
From head to toe, the NFL has some very stringent rules and individuals assigned to enforce said rules. We now know of another crazy NFL uniform rule thanks to Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
That’s because he wore some fresh cleats for the 2016 season opener, known simply as the “Yeezy,” and the NFL’s uniform rule enforcers didn’t enjoy them. The league allegedly fined him $5,000 because the cleat doesn’t have a dominant base color.
Next level. Thank you @adidasFballUS and @kanyewest pic.twitter.com/4kfnN9C38P
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) September 9, 2016
It’s pretty easy to see that the Kanye West-inspired adidas cleats don’t have a dominant base color. However, we’re guessing that few, if anyone, outside of the uniform police in the NFL were aware of the issue these cleats would create.
Hopkins apparently loves them, but he isn’t willing to cough up $5,000 a week to continue wearing them — that is unless Yeezy himself is willing to fork over the money to pay the fine.
According to a report in USA Today, Hopkins was very blunt about the situation:
Hopkins told reporters he would be retiring the cleats from game action, adding that he would wear them again “only if Kanye wants to pay the fine.”
There is no word from Kanye West’s camp on if he’s willing to pay said fine, but given the fact that the cleats have already sold out on the adidas website (you can pick them up for just $250), perhaps the smart thing is to keep paying the fine and maximize exposure.
