Rams rookie Ethan Westbrooks has a face tattoo because he never wants a ‘normal job’

Rams rookie Ethan Westbrooks has a tattoo on his face. This, in and of itself, is not the most abnormal thing ever to happen. Face tattoos, while not necessarily common or accepted by mainstream society, are a thing some people have in 2014.

However, the defensive end’s reasoning for getting the face tattoo is fascinating. Via ESPN, in turn via Yahoo! Finance, Westbrooks says he got the tattoo after quitting a job at Toys ‘R’ Us, in hopes that the tat serves as a constant reminder that he never wants to work a normal, non-football job again:

‘I was just like I might as well go ahead and get it on the face because if nothing else, it will help motivate me to either be a guy that has a tattoo on his face looking for another job or hopefully I make it in the NFL and don’t have to work too hard to do something (else),’ Westbrooks said. ‘I don’t feel it’s a bad thing now. I don’t regret it. It speaks for itself.’

Presumably what he means is: It’s very difficult to get a job when you walk into an interview with a tattoo on your face. By getting the tat -- it says “laugh now, cry later” with happy and sad faces -- he’s ensuring it’s football or bust. And he’s reminded of that whenever he sees his face, which we imagine is often.

And so far, football is working for Westbrooks. Then at Sacramento City Junior College, Westbrooks transferred to West Texas A&M, where he went undrafted. But he worked his way into training camp with the Rams, and ended up sticking on their final roster after cuts over another defensive end rookie prospect you might have heard of.

Maybe Westbrooks’ decision will pay off, or maybe he’ll be an unemployed guy with a face tattoo. We’re pulling for the former.