Earl Thomas, trendsetter

Last year Earl put III after his name. Now I see it on many jerseys. After football he may have a career in clothing design

in 2012 the NFL changed the jersey rules to allow a suffix, hence RG3 putting the III on his name. Thomas didn't have them until they made this change. Can't really cite him as a trend-setter when they pretty much added the rule for griffin.

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom ... n-conquest

RG3 i believe is the real trendsetter behind it, I dont think it was allowed before he was drafted

Whoops, I forgot about that

Earl Thomas, fashion follower?

Killa Kam":y1w9jcig said:

RG3 i believe is the real trendsetter behind it, I dont think it was allowed before he was drafted

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Yes, it was changed "coincidentally" after RGIII came to the league. I read once that Thomas had asked for it originally but was denied. It's always possible that his asking (along with others perhaps) started the thought of changing it rolling, but it he did have to roll with just "Thomas" on his jersey until RGIII came into the league.

Yeah all the credit goes to RG3.

I believe Earl had it on his practice jersey at least a year before he had it on his game jersey.

Aristotle22":1wlsjgcb said:

Last year Earl put III after his name. Now I see it on many jerseys. After football he may have a career in clothing design

Click to expand...

A recent short discussion on the .Net draft site:

"An off-topic query for the Brits --

Is the use of Roman numerals or "Junior" in persons' names peculiar to Americans or does it occur in the UK as well?"

theENGLISHseahawk in response: "Definitely an American thing!"

So far I'll take Earl's legacy over RG3's

I love Steve Smith Sr.'s suffix.

Today on some show they were saying in regards to adding III, that first or second year players can't do it - only vets, because the NFL wants to sell more jerseys. fans buy the Tate jersey , and then the Tate III for example. If RG3 had it his first year then I guess the show was wrong - but it wouldn't surprise me (The NFL trying to make more $$).

chet380":k63ut3dr said:

Is the use of Roman numerals or "Junior" in persons' names peculiar to Americans or does it occur in the UK as well?"

theENGLISHseahawk in response: "Definitely an American thing!"

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I think it's more specifically an African-American thing. I've met a few white guys with Jr. in their name, but never a III or beyond. Russell Wilson's brother is a III, George Foreman decided to skip the whole generational thing and just name his III - VI (which isn't even... like, correct), RGIII, Earl Thomas III, etc. But other than European royals I can't think of anyone else that does it. Usually if 3 generations have the same name they just change the middle name and go by that. The Pawn Star guys are a good example, all Richard Harrisons.

I seem to remember reading on Earl's blog that he asked the league for the III and was told no, but then RG3 got his so they had to allow it for everyone. His comment was something along the lines of "I guess it took a quarterback asking to make it actually happen".

SnoCoHawk":38m941u4 said:

I seem to remember reading on Earl's blog that he asked the league for the III and was told no, but then RG3 got his so they had to allow it for everyone. His comment was something along the lines of "I guess it took a quarterback asking to make it actually happen".

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An overhyped quarterback.

He had to cut his dread locks first, otherwise it got too confusing

chet380":37g1t9ju said:

Aristotle22":37g1t9ju said:

Last year Earl put III after his name. Now I see it on many jerseys. After football he may have a career in clothing design

Click to expand...

A recent short discussion on the .Net draft site:

"An off-topic query for the Brits --

Is the use of Roman numerals or "Junior" in persons' names peculiar to Americans or does it occur in the UK as well?"

theENGLISHseahawk in response: "Definitely an American thing!"

Click to expand...

So much so I had to explain to my GF what III on Thomas' shirt actually meant.

If Earl keeps playing like Earl, he could wear a freaking pink onesie with rabbit ears and whatever name he damn well pleases for all I care. The man is a beast

chet380":2gx9eabt said:

Aristotle22":2gx9eabt said:

Last year Earl put III after his name. Now I see it on many jerseys. After football he may have a career in clothing design

Click to expand...

A recent short discussion on the .Net draft site:

"An off-topic query for the Brits --

Is the use of Roman numerals or "Junior" in persons' names peculiar to Americans or does it occur in the UK as well?"

theENGLISHseahawk in response: "Definitely an American thing!"

Click to expand...

King George III came to me in a dream last night and declared that titles like "III" are only for noble-born Englishmen, and he is sending the British Fleet to enforce this. Right after him, Henry VIII appeared, and said he would order the head chopped off any Yank audacious enough to use a suffix if he isn't descended from royal blood.
Then John Jacob Astor IV appeared, standing on the deck of the Titanic, and said that in the name of his English ancestors, he had ordered a hit to be put out on Americans from the wrong family who pretentiously use privileged suffixes. He said he had just sent the order to the telegraph room.

Clearly there was a breakdown in communication somewhere and a lot of American families didn't get the memo.