Steelers players keep getting fined for altering their uniforms to support causes

October is breast cancer awareness month, a cause the NFL very publicly supports.

Yet, Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams has been fined $5,787 by the league for wearing the phrase, “We will find a cure,” and a pink ribbon in his eye black.

It’s another reminder of how seriously the NFL takes its uniform policy. And the Steelers have been getting such reminders quite a bit lately.

Teammate Cameron Heyward was fined nearly $6,000 earlier this month after printing the words “Iron” and “Head” under each eye in honor of his father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, and others who have died of cancer.

Fellow Steeler William Gay was docked the same amount this month for wearing purple shoes for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. When Gay was 7, his mother was shot and killed by his stepfather.

Gay said he is OK with his fine -- “I broke the rule” -- and hopes that the NFL donates all of it to a domestic violence cause.

There are also ways to show support for a cause without being fined.

This past week, Heyward wore the words “Tackle Cancer” in his eye black and went unpunished since that inscription was handed out to players by the NFL.

Earlier this season, Williams asked the league if he could wear pink gear all year, rather than just during October. The request was shot down by the league, so, instead, Williams dyes the tips of his hair pink to honor his late mother, who died of breast cancer last year.