Titans LB Avery Williamson wearing 9/11 cleats

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Avery Williamson wore special cleats to pay tribute to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the team's opener against the Vikings at Nissan Stadium.

Williamson joined several other players, including New York Giants wide receivers Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr., in wearing the commemorative shoes.

It was believed that Williamson would forgo his plans to wear the shoes once he learned he would be subject to the NFL's uniform code and would be fined.

But after he warmed up in standard shoes, he emerged for the game in the special cleats.

The navy blue shoes have "9-11-01" on the back of the left shoe, with the "11" in the shape of the World Trade Center. The right shoe says "Never Forget."

The Nike swoosh is filled in with red and white stripes, and the laces are red.

"I just felt like, I got so much support across the country, especially when the New York and New Jersey police unions said they would pay my fine," Williamson said. "That really meant a lot. I felt like if I didn't wear them, I wouldn't have felt good about it. So I feel like I had to do that just for myself, to represent the people that were lost and do their jobs every day to protect us. I feel like it was my duty to myself."

Remembrances were held around the league Sunday, including in Philadelphia, where Vice President Joe Biden joined 120 9/11 first responders on the sidelines during the national anthem before the Philadelphia Eagles' game against the Cleveland Browns.

Biden helped hold a flag that was the size of the field. Eagles coach Doug Pederson stood next to Biden while a trumpeter played the national anthem. There was a brief video message from President Barack Obama, and the crowd chanted "U-S-A'' at the end of the anthem.

Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on 9/11, did the coin toss before the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys game near his Dallas home.

Bush took the field to chants of "USA, USA" as he walked to midfield with former first lady Laura Bush next to him. After tossing the coin, Bush grabbed the FDNY cap off the head of New York linebacker Zak DeOssie.

The crowd roared when the giant video board over the center of the field showed Bush saluting the crowd with the hat and putting it back on. Then he whistled at DeOssie to get his attention and give him the hat back.

It's the third time the Giants have played on the anniversary of 9/11. They lost at Washington on the 10th anniversary five years ago.

At least three Lions players -- Nevin Lawson, Haloti Ngata and Devin Taylor -- were spotted wearing gloves sent by Under Armour special for Detroit's 39-35 win over Indianapolis.

The outside of the gloves had one glove in black and one in red. On the inside portion of the gloves were a red, white and blue pattern of stars and stripes, similar to the American flag. In black on the bottom of the gloves were the words "9.11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.