The NFL is socking it to Tyreek Hill.
The league has grown a notorious reputation for its stern enforcement of its uniform rules. Whether it's cleats or the type of shirt you can wear under your jersey, there's no shortage of uniform violations that can take place on Sundays.
Hill is the latest player to feel the wrath of the NFL's somewhat archaic and authoritarian policies surrounding gameday uniform protocol, and now he's footing the bill.
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Tyreek Hill fines
The Dolphins wideout says the NFL has fined him over $100,000 for his failure to adhere to the league's uniform policy, specifically relating to his lack of proper legwear on gamedays. Hill hasn't been wearing socks on gamedays this season, which has seemingly peeved the league office.
Team no sock ✌🏿
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) October 10, 2023
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Hill's fines total less than $100,000, but it's still a "significant amount." Hill recently said that he was fined $7,000 for not wearing any socks during the 70-20 drubbing of the Broncos in Week 3.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, NFL rulebook has a fairly lengthy section dedicated to the wearing of socks on gameday, which seems more than a bit absurd.
Here's the except from the 2023 NFL rulebook, Rule 5, Section 4, Article 3, Item 6:
Game socks and/or leg coverings must cover the entire area from the shoe to the bottom of the pants, and must meet the pants below the knee. Players are permitted to wear as many layers of game socks and/or leg coverings and tape on the lower leg as they prefer, provided the exterior is either a: (a) one-piece game socks and/or leg covering that includes solid white from the top of the shoe to the mid-point of the lower leg, and approved team color or colors (non-white) from that point to the top of the game socks and/or leg covering; or (b) solid color game sock and/or leg covering (i.e., entire covering from bottom of pant leg to top of shoe), but all players must be in the same covering style and color in any particular game. Solid game socks and/or leg coverings must be a consistent color from the bottom of the pant leg to the top of the shoe. Uniform game socks and/or leg coverings may not be altered (e.g., over-stretched, cut at the toes, or sewn short) in order to bring the line between solid white and team colors lower or higher than the mid-point of the lower leg. Skin exposure of the lower leg and ankle area due to improper wear of game socks and/or leg coverings is prohibited at all times throughout the game. No other game socks and/or leg coverings, and/or opaque tape may be worn over the one-piece, two-color uniform game socks. Barefoot punters and placekickers may omit the game sock and/or leg covering of the kicking foot in preparation for and during kicking plays.
As an aside, the excerpt on socks/leg coverings is the longest out of any of the items under the gameday uniform rules and guidelines.
The bolded part is most important to Hill's situation here: Even though Hill has opted to wear some kind of calf sleeve on his legs on gamedays, the lack of a sock that reaches from the shoe to below the knee is what's hurting his wallet.
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It's unclear why the league has such a strange policy on socks, but it's not off-brand. The league has been committed to certain kinds of cleats, uniforms, helmet designs and more. The sock thing doesn't seem like a safety issue, after all, so it seems bizarre to be so stern.
So, there you have it. Tyreek Hill can certainly use his legs, but he's not allowed to show any on Sundays.
Tyreek Hill fine history
It's not the first time that Hill has been slapped with a fine from the NFL, though this may be the first time he's been punished for improper gameday attire.
In years past, Hill has been fined for taunting and TD celebrations, much to the chagrin of football fans who want to be entertained by the players they're watching. Here's a list of prior transgressions (via Spotrac):
- Nov. 23, 2018: $10,026 fine for taunting vs. Rams
- Jan. 1, 2019: $10,026 fine for taunting vs. Raiders
- Oct. 25, 2019: $10,527 fine for taunting vs. Broncos
- Jan. 22, 2022: $12,875 fine for excessive celebration vs. Steelers
- Jan. 28, 2022: $10,300 fine for taunting vs. Buffalo
Add it all up, and Hill has faced roughly $150,000 in fines in his NFL career for on-field transgressions. He can certainly handle the cost, though, with his $120 million contract with Miami covering it.
