Every now and then, we get a story in professional sports where a player is fined or reprimanded in some way for something the public considers trivial. In the NFL, this often happens when a player violates the league’s uniform policy. In the past, players have been penalized for wearing the wrong socks or cleats on the court. Minnesota Vikings Running back Alexander Mattison is getting a lot of attention because of his gold tongue chain, and it’s surprising the NFL didn’t rain on his parade.
Not that Mattison is the first player to wear a gold chain on the field, because he also wears a pendant under his shoulders. But the chain tied around the mouthguard has a different look. We know how sensitive the league is to things like this, but Sunday night against Denver wasn’t the first time Mattison has shaken that mouthpiece.
Minnesota selected the former Boise Street back in the third round of the 2019 draft. He spent his first four years in the NFL in a backup role behind former Pro Bowl cornerback Dalvin Cook. when Cook was let gothis was the opening Mattison had been waiting for since he was drafted.
While Mattison has yet to reach 100 yards in a game, he ran for 93 and 95 yards, respectively, in back-to-back games earlier this year. Regardless of his production, the string hanging from his mouth during games never ceases to amaze and attract the attention of TV cameras around the stadium.
This may be something he cleared up with the league office a while ago since he shook it up over the past couple of years (Deadpin has reached out to the NFL and will update with any response). Hopefully all the attention this custom speaking piece has garnered doesn’t blow up and put Mattison on the NFL uniform rules radar. It seems like the NFL has a clampdown on players’ socks. Miami Tyreek Hill was fined earlier This year for not wearing socks against Denver. In the past, it was Clinton Portis and Sean Taylor Fined for wearing the wrong socks During the match. It’s called the No Fun League for good reason.
