When NFL Tries to Take Shirt Off Boz’s Back, He Has It Figured Out

Brian Bosworth, Seattle Seahawks rookie linebacker, wore his old college No. 44 in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs after his agent obtained a one-game temporary restraining order against the National Football League.

Bosworth, who is represented by New York-based Gary Wichard, was forced to change from No. 44 to No. 55 for the Seahawks’ regular-season opener in Denver last Sunday. League officials said that NFL rules state that linebackers must wear numbers in the 50s or 90s. So as a protest, Bosworth, who had worn No. 44 for three exhibition games, wore 44 painted on his shoes.

“It felt 11 numbers better,” said Bosworth, who had six tackles, including a seven-yard sack against the Chiefs.

“The number thing might not mean a lot to others, but it does to me. I’m a very superstitious person. I thought it was discrimination against me.”

Wichard hired a Seattle lawyer, who obtained the one-game restraining order from Seattle District Court Judge John G. Ritchie. The judge set a hearing on Bosworth’s number for next Friday.

Wichard said he claimed that changing from No. 44 to another number was an economic impact on his client, since Bosworth has a corporation titled “44-Boz Inc.”

Bosworth, a former All-America at University of Oklahoma, was Seattle’s pick in the NFL’s June supplemental draft. He signed a 10-year contract for $11 million with the Seahawks.