The Steelers’ defensive end Cameron Heyward wore eye black honoring his late father on Monday and was fined by the NFL. The eye black read “Iron Head” referencing the nickname of NFL fullback Craig “Ironhead” Heyward who died of cancer in May 2006.
The fine: $5,787. Heyward says he isn’t trying to be difficult by breaking rules and that he understands the policy, but he’s trying for an appeal.
“To lose a person like that due to cancer, for cancer awareness, I don’t think it should be a big deal at all,” Heyward said.
Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams was informed that he couldn’t wear pink accessories outside of October (breast cancer awareness month) Williams also lost a loved one to cancer–his mother, Sandra Hill in May 2014.
On Wednesday, Heyward took to social media: “Got fined for honoring my Dad who bravely fought cancer on my eye black. #Nevergiveup #CancerSucks”
“There are a lot of other things we could be worried about,” Heyward said fo the fine “Guys want to do right by the league. They don’t want to upset anybody. I do it to honor somebody, DeAngelo does it to honor somebody, it shouldn’t be taken to offense by anybody. We’re not trying to gain publicity by it. We grew up in this game loving it. To be a part of it is a blessing, but I want to honor [my dad].”