# Super long hair on football players

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-long-hair-on-football-players/671084>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 12, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-long-hair-on-football-players/671084 "2013-10-12T19:02:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Intelligently\_Designed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intelligently_designed/32/20957_2.png) [@Intelligently\_Designed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intelligently_Designed)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-long-hair-on-football-players/671084/21 "2013-10-17T23:23:17Z")

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Yes, in the NFL, [you can tackle by the hair](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVO93amUv7Y). Ouch.

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**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-long-hair-on-football-players/671084/22 "2013-10-18T14:00:46Z")

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> [@magnusblitz](#):
>
> Yeah, there’s a reason that the long-haired guys who immediately come to mind are all defensive players - Clay Matthews (linebacker), Troy Polamalu (safety), Domata Peko (lineman). The longest hair you’ll usually see on a ball carrier is small dreadlocks.

[Ricky Williams](https://www.google.com/search?q=ricky+williams&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sz5hUuKBBu7KyQGnmoDYDA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=985#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=XtnztRpoFUSjQM%3A%3BmnCrvZZGDzCpuM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.cdn.turner.com%252Fsi%252Fmultimedia%252Fphoto_gallery%252F0807%252Fcant.stay.retired%252Fimages%252Fricky-williams.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.sikids.com%252Fphotos%252F4294%252Fcouldnt-stay-retired%252F8%3B666%3B716) is the only running back I can remember crazy enough to have hair coming out the back of his helmet.

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-long-hair-on-football-players/671084/23 "2013-10-18T14:07:18Z")

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> [@Human\_Action](#):
>
> [Ricky Williams](https://www.google.com/search?q=ricky+williams&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sz5hUuKBBu7KyQGnmoDYDA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=985#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=XtnztRpoFUSjQM%3A%3BmnCrvZZGDzCpuM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.cdn.turner.com%252Fsi%252Fmultimedia%252Fphoto_gallery%252F0807%252Fcant.stay.retired%252Fimages%252Fricky-williams.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.sikids.com%252Fphotos%252F4294%252Fcouldnt-stay-retired%252F8%3B666%3B716) is the only running back I can remember crazy enough to have hair coming out the back of his helmet.

The initial rule allowing hair-pulling was nicknamed “the Ricky Rule” in reference to him.

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