Revenge of the Birds
Have you ever studied an NFL jersey? There aren’t any sponsors like those found in most other professional leagues. Pro soccer teams seem to be nothing but a NASCAR jersey that isn’t run on 510 horsepower.
The NFL has no plans to include advertisements on its uniforms or helmets. Not that they haven’t thought about it. They have. After all, there is the Oakley logo on some helmets that contain their patented face shield.
This is a league that has billionaire owners, and they are constantly looking for the next big idea to garner more profits. If it means a vinyl decal or a custom patch sewn on, they have tested the waters and discussed it fully.
But the NFL has always considered its uniforms to be its holy grail. Every game, there are two uniform cops on each sideline to remind players to pull up their socks, tuck in their jersey, and a long list of uniform-related items. Being non-compliant means players getting fined with a stern letter. Non-compliance usually means another fine, this one much stiffer, with a warning that the player could be suspended which would mean the loss of a game check.
RELATED: CARDINALS RELEASE THEIR “RIVALRIES” JERSEY
Each NFL uniform has attached player numbers on the front, back, and somewhere on the sleeves. All stitched, of course. No thrift store screen-printed anything. The smaller sleeve digits are called “TV numbers” and were first included to help television broadcasters identify who a player was in a pile of bodies.
On the jersey back is the player’s name on a stitched-on nameplate, plus the NFL shield is located at the bottom of the front of the “V” neck, encircled in white so that it will be seen on every dark jersey. Most teams have a team logo somewhere on the jersey. At times, a club will put its city name or team name across the upper portion of the chest above the numerals.
Then, there are the add-ons.
The Nike swoosh is added, usually on the leftside of each jersey. This is included with Nike’s deal with the NFL as their official uniform provider.
Starting in 2007, up to six Captain patches are allowed per team. This patch with the letter “C” is usually stitched onto the upper rightside of the jersey and designed in team colors, except the “C” is in white. Gold and white stars rest underneath the “C.” These represent how many years the player has been named Captain.
One gold star with three white stars means his first year as Captain. Two gold stars with two white stars represent two years as Captain, and so on. After four years, the “C” on the patch is then colored gold. Sometimes the “C” has a representation color, such as pink for breast cancer awareness month or camo with U.S. military recognition.
Captains are voted on internally by the players of each club.
There are other patches. Commemorative patches are sewn on for special occasions, such...
