Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Dez Bryant has created a mild stir by refusing to accept a rite of passage traveled by NFL rookies for decades.
Bryant flatly said he would not carry Cowboys’ veteran wide receiver Roy Williams shoulder pads following the team’s practice on Sunday morning.
“I’m not doing it,” Bryant said. “I feel like I was drafted to play football, not carry another player’s pads.”
Anyone who’s played football from grammar school through college has been exposed to some form of hazing.
As a sophomore in high school we were made to get on our hands and knees, crawling along with our noses pressed against the buttocks of the person in front of us.
As you might guess, it wasn’t a lot of fun. But I took it all in stride because I knew that was part of becoming a member of the team.
Not to mention, the idea of getting my ass whipped by the seniors was a key motivator as well.
During the first few days of training camp at Murray State, all of the freshman were made to sing in front of the team.
Compared to what I encountered in high school, singing was a breeze.
It’s a well-known fact that virtually every underclassman, or a rookie in the case of the NFL, is going to encounter some good-natured ribbing.
There’s nothing Bryant is being asked to do that he hasn’t been exposed to before.
He knew coming in that he’d have to endure some hazing from his veteran teammates as part of the process of becoming accepted.
Bryant should understand that his refusal to carry Williams shoulder pads is sending up red flags, and rest assured the Cowboys’ veteran players are taking notice.
It’s all about Bryant being a rookie and exhibiting his willingness to become part of the team.
But more importantly, it’s about Bryant earning the respect of his teammates. There’s a hierarchy in every organization and a football team is no different.
Regardless of how talented a rookie may be, that doesn’t preclude him from the rite of passage every player in the NFL has taken to earn their stripes.
That’s exactly what rookie hazing is all about – earning the respect of your teammates and understanding your place on the team.
If Dez Bryant hasn’t figured that out by now, there’s no hope for the lad.
And he may come to find out the reactions of his veteran teammates could be far more harsh than simply having to carry someone’s shoulder pads.
[...] • He needs to shut his mouth [...]