Overview
- Chief NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy and ESPN confirmed the $11,593 penalty for a uniform and equipment violation from the wild-card game in Pittsburgh.
- League rules under Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 prohibit players from displaying unapproved personal or political messages when visible to stadium or TV audiences.
- The NFL explained that its accountability website publishes on-field discipline but does not include uniform or equipment violations, addressing why the fine was not initially listed.
- Azeez Al-Shaair displayed the same eye-black message before the Texans’ divisional-round game against the Patriots despite the earlier fine, according to multiple reports.
- CAIR-Houston condemned the discipline and urged the NFL to apologize and permit the phrase “Stop the genocide,” intensifying scrutiny of how the policy is applied.