New York, New Jersey Police Unions Say They'll Pay Tennessee Titan's Fine If He Wears Unauthorized 9/11 Cleats

NASHVILLE, TN — If Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson decides to wear his custom, 9/11 tribute cleats, plenty of people say they'll chip in to pay the fine threatened by the NFL.

Williamson had a special set of red, white and blue cleats designed for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, bearing the words "Never Forget" and with artwork commemorating the tragedy of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But NFL rules mandate that a team's cleats have the same color scheme and the NFL office told Williamson he faced a fine if he wears the special shoes.

But, the union for the New York Port Authority Police, which had 37 officers killed at the World Trade Center, told The Tennessean that if Williamson wears the cleats, they, along with their New Jersey counterparts, will pay the fine.

Williamson also told the newspaper that several teammates said they too would chip in on the fine if he decides to go forward.

Williamson said he decided to pay tribute when he realized the kind of platform NFL players have after Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem to bring attention to disparate treatment of minorities by law enforcement.

“I guess if he wants to stand up for something, he can, because everybody has a voice,” Williamson told The Tennessean. “If that’s the way he wants to express himself, that’s the way he’s doing it. It’s his decision. And I just wish him luck with it. It can be used for good or bad, either or, but you definitely have a bigger platform than you think.”

Williamson has decided to auction the cleats and said he will instead wear a matching pair of street shoes to the game he also had made. He also said he will be bringing veterans to the game.

New York Giants receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz also plan a cleat tribute Sunday, though the NFL has been mum on if the pair will also be fined. Last season, the NFL fined running back D'Angelo Williams for wearing "Find The Cure" in his eye black to promote a search for a cure for breast cancer and cornerback William Gay for wearing purple cleats for domestic violence awareness.