We’re about to enter year three of the NFL’s relaxed jersey number rules, and I hate it more than ever.
I’m not against fun or anything. Trust me. I loved when good ol’ Roger allowed for more passionate celebrations. God forbid a player go down on a knee to celebrate, or give the ball to an offensive lineman to spike after a touchdown.
I consider myself pretty progressive in sports – and in general – but I just haven’t warmed up to this number change policy, as it continues to consistently affect the aesthetic of numerous positions in professional football.
A lot of sports fans are up in arms over the realignment of college football. One of the main reasons being (as I understand it, anyway) that it is slowly turning the SEC and a few other programs into a “junior NFL” where all the pipeline top prospects play.
The jersey number rule is doing something similar, but on a more subconscious level. College football has more liberal number rules, something that always stood out to me as a stark, cosmetic difference between the NCAA and NFL.
However, the rule change by the NFL further blurs the line between college and the pros. When a player was drafted, he had to assimilate a number that groups them in with the rest of their peers.
To me, it feels more mature and legitimate that a player can’t carry over their awkward single digit number to the pros, signifying a clear transition and step up for the draftee.
I remember when Tom Brady spoke out against this rule change when it was first announced. Of course, he was arguing about it from a quarterback’s perspective, claiming it was more difficult to distinguish defensive positions and make calls from the line of scrimmage.
But who’s not going to listen to Brady, am I right?
Regardless, I feel like having the greatest player to ever suit up on your side of any football topic is worth noting – regardless of the reason. It honestly says a lot that Tom spoke out about this at all, considering he tries to avoid controversial takes.
The greatest generation has really been struggling to identify players the last two years. I have trouble differentiating positions myself occasionally, but running backs, wide receivers, linebackers, and safeties all wearing the same numbers?
Anarchy!
The worst may be for the tight ends. They just feel so much less imposing wearing “18” instead of a hearty “88.” It really is one of those “hard to describe, but you know it when you see it” situations.
I’ve seen a lot now, and most of the time, it just doesn’t look right. The number “1” looks OK, but you have to earn it. Cam Newton, N’Keal Harry, and Devante Parker didn’t exactly earn it for the Patriots over the last three seasons. There’s still time for Devante, though.
A glimmer of hope – thank God – regarding a fix comes in the form of rookie wide receivers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte of the Patriots. The two promising preseason studs are wearing “81” and “80,” respectively.
We can only hope they don’t resort to single-digit displays once the regular season kicks off.
If they end up having good careers, it will – of course – be because of the numbers they chose.
Oh well, we’ll see.
