NFL Under Fire After Steelers Players Not Allowed To Honor Family Cancer Victims
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – First Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams was told he couldn't wear pink the entire season to honor his mother, and four aunts who passed away from breast cancer.
Now Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward says he was fined for honoring his father who passed away from brain cancer.
DeAngelo Williams is showing how much he cares about breast cancer awareness by paying for 53 mammograms.
Williams has lost his mother and four aunts to breast cancer. His mom was 53-years-old.
In honor of her, Williams is paying for 53 women to get mammograms at a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In honor of my Mom, Charlotte Radiology & I provided mammograms to 53 women in need because #MammogramsSavesLives https://t.co/jVScbVffF2
— DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) October 6, 2015
NFL players show support for breast cancer by wearing pink during the month of October.
Williams wanted to wear pink for the entire season, but the league declined his request. NFL rules forbid players from displaying any "personal messages."
In addition to the pink uniform accents, Williams has also dyed his hair pink.
Williams also posted a video on Twitter to share his story:
This is dedicated to my mom, my aunts & women everywhere affected by Breast Cancer. I love you. #WeAreInThisTogetherhttps://t.co/bAwaanlfzV
— DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) October 11, 2015
Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward also says he was fined by the NFL for writing "Iron Head" on his eye black during Monday night's game against the Chargers.
"Iron Head" was the nickname for Cam's father Craig Heyward who passed away from brain cancer in 2006.
Got fined for honoring my Dad who bravely fought cancer on my eye black. #Nevergiveup #CancerSucks pic.twitter.com/RTx988ijG9
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) October 14, 2015
Heyward told KDKA's Rich Walsh he'll try to appeal his fine and he doesn't want to give up.
Walsh: "Will you continue to wear those?"
Heyward: "I want to. I wouldn't be in this situation without the support of my family, and especially my dad, and to lose a person like that due to cancer, for cancer awareness, I don't think it should be a big deal at all."
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