Hazing Rituals in the NFL? They Should End

When an NFL team pays an exorbitant amount of money to a draft pick, it should definitely protect that player. Should a rookie player be hazed and subjected to humiliation or possible injury just because of some foolish tradition? No. I am all for tradition. But please be reminded that their are good traditions and foolish traditions, in many places, not just football. Just as an example, (not football)during hazing traditions of certain fraternities, sometimes the pledge is forced to eat something that he might be allergic to. He might be thrown into a pond, without knowing how to swim. He might be forced to drink a bottle of vodka in a certain amount of seconds. Alcohol poisoning deaths have occurred because of this.

Coming back to pro football. Last year, Tim Tebow, a rookie quarterback was given a ridiculous friar style haircut. He was bald in the middle of his head with locks of hair surrounding the baldness. This is ridiculous. Tebow submitted to it because he has character. I consider it a form of persecution because he is a professed Christian. It appears that football is the king of hazing. I even consider it foolish for a coach to be drenched in Gatorade after winning an important game or a championship. I have seen coaches get hit with the container during the process, and I know it was painful. Is that the reward for doing a good or great job? Such foolishness! Believe it or not, careers can be ended due to such nonsensical conduct. Just ask Cam Cleeland and Jeff Danish. Both were New Orleans Saints rookies during the late nineties. Both were gang-rushed by teammates. Cleeland sustained an eye injury after being clubbed by a bag of coins. Danish was hospitalized after being shoved through a window. Danish sustained serious injuries. He sued the Saints, an assistant coach and a half-dozen players. He won an undisclosed amount of money after suing for more than $650,000 in damages. He was released from the team the next day. What a shame. What a waste of money and talent. All because of stupidity. There is much more to discuss regarding this matter. I will save it for another time.