Alex Smith wants to root, root, root for the home team, but it’s going to be expensive.
According to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, the 49ers quarterback was threatened with a $15,000 fine from the NFL if he continues to wear a San Francisco Giants cap to postgame interviews, as he did often last year.
The league considers non-NFL items non-sponsored gear, and players can’t appear wearing it 90 minutes before or after games.
Smith said the league took back an initial fine of $15,000 in lieu of a warning, which was issued by former 49ers safety Merton Hanks, who works for the NFL now.
Asked about the fine for his loyalty to the local team, Smith suggested he’d keep going if the baseball team picked up the tab, saying: “Yeah, can you call [Giants CEO] Larry Baer for me?”
The news comes at a time when the league’s hawking “football caps” made by New Era, the same company with baseball’s hat deal.
Maybe Smith should just split the difference, and wear a New York Giants hat instead.
Photo credit: CSNBayArea.com