It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about training camp, I’m talking about rookie hazing. Around this time every year, we hear about how rookies are being hazed by their veteran teammates as an introduction to the NFL. Some teams discourage it, some encourage it, but most just turn a blind eye towards it. It can be a good way to bring a rookie down to earth after the high of being drafted with a top pick.
Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III Fall Victims To Rookie Hazing
The severity of hazing differs from team to team. Almost all rookies will have to carry veterans shoulder pads to and from the locker room. For some lucky rookies, it stops there. But there are less fortunate rookies that have to put up with much more. Some guys get tied to goal posts and left there for an afternoon, others have an involuntary haircut. I don't think I'll ever forget what the Denver Broncos veterans did to Tim Tebow's hair, I must have laughed for a good week or so.
The top two picks of Aprils NFL draft have been no exceptions to rookie hazing. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was forced to sing in front of his teammates. Apparently, he gave an awful rendition of 'Take Me Home, Country Roads', to the extent that he was booed off the stage by the veterans.
More after the jump.
Meanwhile, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has had his fair share of hazing as well. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall forced Griffin to carry his pads off the field yesterday because Griffin told him "I break arm tackles". Hall's response: "Here's these pads, this will help you work on breaking those arm tackles".
Griffin admitted he will be signing to his teammates in the near future.
“I plan on singing, hopefully I don’t get booed off the stage, but we’ll see what happens,” he said. ”… I think I’m going to go with some Temptations, some “My Girl.” Hopefully get the whole room singing, and move on from there.”
What stories have you heard of your team taking part in rookie hazing? Do you approve of it? Let us know in the comments section below.
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