Carolina panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks at the scoreboard during first half action, between the Miami Dolphins, and the Carolina Panthers at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida on August 19th 2011. The Miami Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 20-10.. UPI/Susan Knowles
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson recently revealed that he had a conversation with Cam Newton regarding whether or not the quarterback had any tattoos or piercings. When Newton told Richardson that he didn’t, the owner responded: “We want to keep it that way.”
This, of course, has caused a small internet uproar. From what I’ve seen and read, the public has been decidedly split on the issue. There are some who believe that at 22, Newton can do whatever he wants to his own body while others suggest that he should do what the man signing his checks asks.
What’s my take? I fall somewhere in between, although before I dive into the topic I want to point out that Richardson isn’t the first owner to mandate or suggest players display a certain image. The Yankees have been doing it for decades and I think they’ve turned out just fine. Whether you were Derek Jeter or Johnny Damon, the late George Steinbrenner made sure all Yankee players had a clean look, which included no long hair, no facial hair, and no tattoos or piercings.
The Carolina Panthers are a business establishment first and foremost. They hire employees, they fire employees, they sell merchandise and most of all: they’re in business to make money. With that in mind, Richardson has every right to tell one of his employees what he wants for a dress code. There are literally millions of businesses that instruct their employees to cover up tattoos and piercings. That’s just the way it goes. There are certain connotations that come with tattoos and businessmen and women don’t want them interfering with their ability to make money. Quite frankly, I think that’s pretty understandable.
On the other hand, Newton is a grown man and has the right to do whatever he wants to his own body. Furthermore, tattoos don’t make the man. Just because Newton gets ink doesn’t mean he’s going to turn around and steal laptops, cheat on tests or get wrapped up in an NCAA-sized scandal. (Wait…what?)
The bottom line is that Richardson has every right to tell his employees how they should dress in the work place. That said, the general rule when it comes to tattoos is that you can have them, but they must be covered up. If Richardson wants the new face of the franchise not to have any tattoos, I think that’s a bit extreme. But if Richardson wants Newton to cover up any tattoos he may get in the future, I don’t think that’s unreasonable. (Of course, there’s the issue about why Newton can’t show his tattoos and other Panthers can, but that’s a topic for another day.)
Personally, if someone were paying me $22 million I’d have no problem steering clear of tattoo parlors until I was done playing. Hell, for $22 million I’d dress up like Big Bird everyday if someone wanted me to – and have a smile on under that big ass costume while I was doing it.
