League cracks down on facemasks

The NFL won’t allow Colts defensive end Robert Mathis to use his face mask on game days.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in an email to The Associated Press that the NFL determined it was a prohibited non-standard face mask.

At training camp in Anderson, Ind., Mathis has been wearing cagey- looking white face mask that covers up just about everything except his eyes. Several players around the league including Arizona’s Darnell Dockett and the Giants’ Justin Tuck have been using similar face masks, and those also will be disallowed. The only exception to wearing a customized face mask, McCarthy said, would be for a medical reason.

Mathis used his Twitter account to explain the decision.

“its official…. the league says i cant wear my facemask. I will return to my run of the mill grill,” he wrote.

Mathis is a five-time Pro Bowl player and is second on the Colts’ career sacks list with 91.5.

On Thursday, he used Twitter to explain that he “may not” win the battle with the league office and asked fans: “anybody got pics/suggestions of a face mask within the horizontal4 and vertical3 guidelines?”

Mathis hasn’t said what face mask he will use, but presumably it will fall within the bounds of league rules.

Surgery for Burress

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress will have surgery on Monday to repair an injury in his right shoulder and is out indefinitely.

Coach Mike Tomlin called the damage to Burress’ shoulder “significant” but declined to specify the exact nature of the injury. ESPN and NFL.com reported Burress has a torn rotator cuff.

Manuel to start

Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel will start Sunday’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

Kevin Kolb, Manuel’s competitor for Buffalo’s starting quarterback job, will serve as an emergency QB as he makes his way back from a knee injury.

Kolb returned to practice on Friday, but was limited and did not take part in any team drills after missing time due to a death in the family.