Brandon Marshall has some expensive taste.
Marshall wore bright green cleats last Thursday night during the Bears’ 27-21 win against the Giants. After a few days of waiting, he finally learned on Wednesday that the infraction will cost him $10,500. Marshall received the official fine notice from the NFL on Wednesday morning and then tweeted a photo of the letter.
“Football is my platform not my purpose. This fine is nothing compared to the conversation started & awareness raised.” Marshall tweeted Wednesday morning.
Marshall, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in 2011, wore the cleats in honor of Mental Health Awareness Week, seeking to start a conversation and raise further awareness about mental illness. He informed the NFL ahead of the game that he planned to wear the cleats, and he was told prior to the game that he would be fined for violating the league’s uniform and equipment rules.
Initial reports indicated that Marshall would be fined $5,250 for the clothing infraction – -the same amount Marshawn Lynch was docked for his own footwear choices earlier this season. However, it appears the footwear fines are gradually increasing as the season goes on. Brandon Spikes was fined $7,875 for wearing red cleats last week.
Marshall did promise to match any fine with a donation to his own Brandon Marshall Foundation, which supports mental health awareness, and plans to keep up his end of the bargain. He also is auctioning off the green cleats and plans to donate the proceeds to charity as well.
Check out the photo of Marshall’s fine letter from the NFL below.
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Photo via Twitter/@BMarshall
