As for Caleb Williams, the NFL currently stands for the “Nother Fine League.”
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the NFL fined the Bears quarterback $23,882 for wearing an “unauthorized logo” on his shoes during the Week 7 game against the Patriots. This represents double the amount of Fine of $11,941 imposed on Williams last week for wearing banned shoes in Week 6 against the Falcons.
Williams said he plans to continue wearing Caddix shoes, which do not have an agreement with the league. He will likely appeal the second fine.
“I’m determined to try to stay on the field,” Williams said Wednesday. “I’m committed to trying to be healthy. It’s a tough game and things like that. So the cleats, they’ve been great. They’ve been super comfortable and they’ve worked. They’re science-type cleats. It’s something that focuses on when you plant on hard plants on turf or grass, they call them SmartStuds, and they move as you move through those hard plants. They take the strain off your tendons, of your joints and all that. So over the course of a long career or over the course of a long year, when you can take a certain percentage – it could be one, it could be 50, it could be 12, it could be anything, you know, when you take that percentage out consistently over a period of time, you know, you have a chance, a greater chance of being healthy.
“I’m trying to be healthy. They’re smart cleats. They’re science cleats, and they’ve worked for me. A lot of other guys wear them in the league, and they’re focused on the future to make sure players stay on the field, and that’s what I always focus on.”
The appeal regarding Williams’ Week 6 fine has not yet been resolved.
Presumably, the league will continue to issue escalating fines unless and until Williams complies. At some point, the league could (in theory) prevent Williams from playing in non-compliant shoes. However, neither of the two beautiful letters warns him that he might be prevented from playing in Caddix shoes.
Gn sports
