NFL not scaling back pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The NFL says it is not going to scale back its breast cancer awareness efforts, even as the league continues to come under fire for the way it handled the punishment involving players accused of domestic violence.

The National Football League says it doesn't plan on scaling back its breast cancer awareness efforts, even as the league has been under fire for the way it handled the punishment involving players accused of domestic violence, reports USA TODAY’s Lindsay Jones.

The NFL has been part of the annual breast cancer awareness campaign for the past six years and says it values its female fan base. October is not only Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

"I strongly believe this is not the time to pull back on a campaign that reaches so many people across the country,"  NFL vice president of social responsibility Anna Isaacson told USA TODAY.

During the month of October, the NFL allows its players to wear pink gear on the field, including gloves, hats, shoe laces, cleats, wristbands and mouthguards. The players auction off their game gear, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

Issacson also said the league is considering acknowledging domestic violence month, but hasn’t decided how to do it.

“I think we're always clear that we need to listen to the people that do this every day and rely on the experts," Isaacson said. "We know what we do well, we know what we're experts in: We're experts in football, and we need to rely on outside experts and non-profit organizations to help us make those decisions."

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