So many NFL players have long hair

Otherwise, I don’t care really.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty came from this play. Also noteworthy, Troy Polamalu handled it like a class act.

Darn. I'd like to see it.

on the link in the black box titled "Watch on YouTube"? It still doesn't work for you?

Thanks!

You cannot grab certain parts of the uniform, but the hair is not the uniform.

If you consider how the rule would be abused by people growing extra-long hair (and spreading it out thinly like a veil or cape on purpose to draw penalties or prevent tackling of any kind), you can see why they don't make a rule protecting it. Keep your hair inside your helmet if you want people to keep their hands off of it.

But you're saying that it's now legal?

I wonder when the change occurred....

Where it is referred to as the "Ricky rule" (as in running back Ricky Williams)
https://www.racked.com/2018/2/1/16955990/nfl-long-hair-ricky-rule

It appears that prior to 2003 the rulebook was merely silent on the matter. That, of course, leads to ambiguity and divergent calls by different officials. Hence the need for an explicit rule. Confusion in 2006 would be understandable for a relatively obscure and rarely invoked rule.

There are other articles I have seen commenting on other rule changes since then which further emphasize in various ways that the hair is considered a body part. For instance, various rules which have to do with whether or not player A touched something (the ball, or player B) have been amended to include the hair in the list of body parts which count as having touched the thing in question.

It's either professional courtesy or players are coached to tackle the right way -- wrap up the legs.