Flowing-hair issue on agenda for owners meetings

NEW YORK -- NFL owners will consider a proposal to ban players from having hair flow from their helmets below their names on the back of their jerseys.

The rule banning long hair on the field was proposed by the Kansas City Chiefs. It does not require players to get haircuts, but does "require them to tuck it up inside their helmets," said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the league's competition committee.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is the best known of the players, most of them defensive backs, with hair flowing outside their helmets. Others include cornerbacks Al Harris of Green Bay and Mike McKenzie of New Orleans.

A new ruling might affect Polamalu's image, but help him on the field. Two seasons ago, the Pittsburgh safety with the long ponytail had his hair grabbed by Kansas City's Larry Johnson and was thrown to the turf after an interception against the Chiefs.

Because the rule was proposed by a team, the competition committee did not take a position on it. It will be discussed on Monday at the owners meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., with a package of other rules.