NFL Will Not Fine Players For Wearing 9/11 Tribute Gear On Anniversary

The NFL players who wear special cleats and gloves to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks this weekend will not have to shell out a fine for breaking uniform rules according to Yahoo! Sports.

Players from Redskins tight-end Chris Cooley to Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who had tweeted photos of the colorful Reebok gear, expected to pay fines for wearing the special cleated shoes and gloves in Sunday's games.

On Friday afternoon, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that the players would not be fined for wearing the tribute gear, despite breaking the league's strict uniform policy.

"We have extensive plans for Sunday to respectfully recognize the significance of the day," Aiello said.

All NFL players, coaches and sideline crews will be wearing special 9/11tribute ribbons on their apparel during the opening Sunday of the season.

The colorful equipment was spotted inside the New York Jets locker room this week and center Nick Mangold and tight end Dustin Keller said they plan to wear the cleats and gloves.

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs posted on his Twitter account about the possibility of having a fine levied against him for donning the red, white and blue gear.

"So once the breast cancer game is played, players can wear pink gloves and shoes as much as they like," Briggs tweeted.  "For the anniversary of 9/11 game, why is it if I wear shoes and gloves that are the colors of our nation's flag...I will be fined by the league."

"Reebok did a great job on these gloves and shoes...looks like I'm getting fined this week.  Lol!"

All the players who chose to wear the gear in honor of the day won't have to worry about getting fined this week, but let's see what happens after all the ceremonies and tributes are done.

Nick Mangold Photo Bombs Mark Sanchez Once Again

Nick Mangold gave broadcast networks another reason you'll never see an offensive lineman being interviewed in post-game wrap-ups.  The New York Jets center photo bombed his quarterback Mark Sanchez while being interviewed on live TV by an NBC reporter after last night's game against the New York Giants.

It seems like the only way that the 300-pound Mangold can get his Grizzly Adams beard in prime-time is to crash Sanchez's interviews.  He is making a habit of it.  This is the second week in a row Mangold has done it and he is proud of his new-found face-time.

Mangold tweeted about the photo bomb on his Twitter account: "Got another one!  I'm 2 for 2."

The camera-hungry Mangold pulled the same stunt last week after a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He was joined, for a moment,  by another O-lineman, teammate Wayne Hunter,  in acting like giddy spectators when the Jumbo tron Fan-Cam is turned on them-- lots of hand waving and silly faces.  It's a lot worse when annoying fans do it.

It almost looked like Sanchez was expecting the interruption and didn't break stride in his conversation.

The Jets defeated the Giants, 17-3, in the thrice-scheduled "Battle of  MetLife Stadium" in the Meadowlands, so there was a good reason to goof around.

Afterwards, the prankster Mangold made nice with the reporter Bruce Beck by tweeting him: "All in good humor of course."