NFL Reportedly Will Allow Players to Have Personal Messages on Cleats in Week 13

The NFL has often been criticized for its stringent uniform policy, but in Week 13, the league is reportedly planning to lift some of the restrictions to allow players to highlight worthy causes.

Sports Illustrated's Jonathan Jones reported Monday the NFL will allow players to wear personal messages that benefit charitable causes:

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There are some regulations, though.

Players must have the charity or cause approved by the league prior to Week 13, as the league will still determine the legitimacy of the cause. The players must also auction off the cleats after use and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to that charity or cause.

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While allowing players more freedom to express themselves is a positive step, Jones noted it could bring up some tough discussions: "How will the NFL set its threshold for approval? No reasonable person would be against raising money and awareness for, say, children with cancer. But what of support for the local police union or the Black Lives Matter movement? We will soon find out."

On Sunday, some players wore cleats to honor those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Sports Illustrated shared an image of Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson's 9/11-themed cleats:

SportsCenter also posted photos of the footwear New York Giants wide receivers Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. wore Sunday:

None of the three has been fined by the league yet, but that's likely a matter of time if recent history is an indicator.

In October 2015, the NFL fined Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams $5,787 for wearing a message on his eyeblack to raise breast cancer awareness. The league also denied Williams' request to continue wearing pink accessories after the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward received a fine last year after honoring his deceased father on his eyeblack.

At least Williamson knows he'll be covered should the NFL hit him in the wallet. Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said he'd pay any fine Williamson receives as a result of his Week 1 cleats, per The Tennessean's Jason Wolf.