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Ray Lewis not fined for Art Modell tribute

By Chris Chase, USA TODAY

For once, the NFL used common sense and passed on an opportunity to fine a player for a thoughtful, if illegal, tribute.

Despite strict uniform regulations that say players can't write personal messages on their uniforms, Ray Lewis wasn't fined for scrawling the initials of Art Modell on his eye black in Week 1, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

The Baltimore Ravens linebacker wrote "A.M." on the strips prior to the Monday night game to honor the late team owner who died earlier in the month.

The NFL likes to avoid slippery slopes. That's why Peyton Manning gets fined for wearing black shoes to honor Johnny Unitas, Earl Bennett couldn't wear orange shoes for Bears games and Troy Polamalu almost got fined for calling his wife to let her know he was doing fine after suffering a concussion. Roger Goodell doesn't believe in gray areas. He doesn't want to let isolated incidents set precedents. It can be Draconian at times, but it's completely understandable. Give them an inch today, they'll want 10 yards tomorrow.

That's what so refreshing about this. Lewis honored a man who deserved to be honored. The sky isn't going to fall because he did it, nor is it going to lead to a spate of imitators trying to do the same thing. This was an extenuating circumstance. No one will equate a tribute to a recently-deceased owner to Antrel Rolle repping The U on his eye black (an offense he was fined for last year). The league can have strict rules that are applied with common sense.

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