The NFL is preparing to examine players' tattoos for gang symbols, shining the spotlight on the hidden meanings of many markings in the criminal underworld and other subcultures.
When former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested for murder, police inspected his tattoos to see whether he had any gang ties and found that he has the word 'BLOOD' inked onto his right hand, which some claimed linked him to the Bloods street gang.
But next to 'BLOOD' Hernandez has a tattoo of another another word: 'SWEAT.' That indicates the tattoo is more likely a reference to the well-known idiom 'Blood, sweat and tears' that is widely used in sports to celebrate excessive physical exertion.
In this June 27, 2013, file photo, former New England Patriots NFL football tight end Aaron Hernandez stands during a bail hearing in Fall River Superior Court in Fall River, Massachusetts. He has been charged with first-degree murder
Hernandez has the word 'BLOOD' inked onto his right hand next to the word 'SWEAT'
According to CBS, NFL bosses may start employing police experts to analyze players' tattoos in the wake of Hernandez' arrest.
Other NFL players including San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick are heavily tattooed, though there is no suggestion he is linked to any gangs.
However, the subject of tattoos, which have had a huge resurgence in the past decade and not just among criminals and lower socio-economic groups but the rich and trendy, and what they represent is high on the radar.
But what do popular tattoos actually signify?
Cats can symbolise a thief's pedigree. A single cat says they acted alone; several cats together indicate a gang
Representations of the Mexican Day of the Dead sugar skulls are a way to honor loved ones who have passed. The sugar skulls have become popular motifs because of their colorful, artful designs, but also as they represent our mortality
According to Native American mythology, a dreamcatcher tattoo, as shown on Miley Cyrus, is a protective covering for infants that stops the bad while letting the good pass through
A teardrop below the eye could mean the wearer has killed someone - they are usually associated with death and prison. In gangland, an unfilled teardrop may signify the death of a friend, with the person shading it in when they have avenged their loss.
They can also mean mourning, as was the case of Amy Winehouse's teardrop that was said to symbolize her former husband Blake Fielder-Civil's stint in prison.
According to Canadian authorities, AFFA means 'Angel Forever, Forever Angel' and suggests the wearer is linked to Hell's Angels. Meanwhile, a noose is favored by KKK fans.
A clown face is likely to have a sinister undercurrent, and is said to mean 'Laugh now, cry later' and 'play now, pay later.'
In gangland, an unfilled teardrop may signify the death of a friend, with the person shading it in when they have avenged their loss. Teardrops may also mean mourning
Dolphins may mean prosperity but also represent duality ¿ a creature of the water, and a breather of air. They suggest we are in two worlds at once
According to the Canadian authorities, clown faces can mean 'Laugh now, cry later' and 'play now, pay later'
Swallows never fly far into the ocean and so their sighting was a sign that land was near ¿ a symbol of hope and achievement for sailors
Another popular tattoo is a Mexican Day of the Dead sugar skull. These are often a way to honor loved ones who have passed.
The sugar skulls have become popular motifs because of their colorful, artful designs, but they also represent mortality.
A swallow can be a symbol of hope and achievement for sailors because the birds never fly far into the ocean, therefore their sighting was a sign that land was near. However, a bird on a hand or neck can also say 'jailbird.'
Cats can symbolize a thief's pedigree, with a single cat suggesting they acted alone and several cats together indicate a gang.
When placed on elbows or shoulders, the spider's web traditionally denotes being caught in prison.
Butterflies are symbols of the soul in many cultures and most often denote transformation or change
AFFA means 'Angel Forever, Forever Angel' and screams Hell's Angel
Swallows never fly far into the ocean and so their sighting was a sign that land was near ¿ a symbol of hope and achievement for sailors
When placed on elbows or shoulders, the spider's web traditionally denoted being caught in prison
An anchor could mean crossing the equator, the soul of a dead sailor or symbolise hope that we can 'anchor' our self
Miley Cyrus and Zac Efron both sport dreamcatcher tattoos. According to Native American mythology, a dreamcatcher tattoo is a protective covering for infants that stops the bad while letting the good pass through.
Other markings generally reserved for women include dolphins and butterflies.
Dolphins may mean prosperity but also represent duality because they are creatures of the water but also breathe air, suggesting the wearer is in two worlds at once.
Butterflies are symbols of the soul in many cultures and because of their metamorphosis most often they denote transformation or change.
Similarly, and unsurprisingly, the phoenix represents new life, symbolizing that the wearer has overcome some adversity.
An anchor could mean crossing the equator, the soul of a dead sailor or symbolize hope or the desire to anchor oneself.
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