11-year-old asks for pink flags, NFL listens

Published On October 25, 2012 | By Jill Saftel

As Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to a close, the NFL is adding one more pink touch at this weeks Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets game. According to the Washington Post, referees will be throwing pink penalty flags at MetLife Stadium.

The idea to replace the yellow flags with bright pink came from an 11-year-old. The young fan wrote to Commissioner Roger Goodell with his idea, and Goodell listened.

“My name is Dante Cano. I am 11 years old and I am from Marlboro, New Jersey. I wanted to know if you could use my idea of pink penalty flags in October for breast cancer awareness. Please write back,” the fifth-grader wrote.

Goodell invited Cano to the game, to which the boy responded yes, but on the condition his sister be allowed to tag along. Cano will be presenting the pink flags to officials prior kickoff.

“Dante had a great idea and I am looking forward to meeting with him on Sunday to put it into action,” Goodell said in a statement. “Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the best. I applaud Dante for sending in his recommendation.”

Part of the initiative A Crucial Catch, this is the fourth year the league has added touches of pink in October games.

 

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About The Author

Jill studies journalism at Northeastern University, covers Hockey East for College Hockey News and is the sports editor for The Huntington News. You can follow her on Twitter at @jillsaftel, just don't ask her to choose between hockey and baseball, it's impossible.