Rookie refuses to carry veteran's pads

[Cassatt]

Dez is an idiot. The lack of a rookie salary cap means that a bunch of unproven rookies get paid more than established vets who have already proved they can play in the NFL. These rituals (carrying pads, being made to sing during mealtime, etc.) are ways to initiate rookies into the team culture and remind them that no matter the size of their signing bonus, they owe respect to those with more experience than them. At least until they actually make the final 53 man roster.

I hate any types of hazing that are truly psychologically or physically dangerous. However, by refusing the most basic, non-humiliating "hazing" ritual there is at training camp, he's guaranteeing at the very least that before the end of camp, he'll be duct taped to the goalpost by the vets. I hope it rains while he's out there. Prima donna idiot.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Cassatt

Dez is an idiot. The lack of a rookie salary cap means that a bunch of unproven rookies get paid more than established vets who have already proved they can play in the NFL.

Rather than say Dez is an idiot, I'd say the team ownership, everywhere in the league, are idiots. Their salary structure actively deteriorates team harmony in ways that other private businesses don't usually see. Veterans in other businesses get more vacation time, preferred office spaces, cushier schedules, choice assignments. Rookies start with lower pay, get shittier assignments, and work weekends. It's no wonder rookies in the NFL come in with inflated egos; they've had people telling them since they were 5 years old that they're the next Jerry Rice, they're the greatest, we buy your mom a car if you sign with our school! Then you sign them for record amounts of money, more than the veterans earn, and get them onto the team before you start teaching them humility?

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Fish

Rather than say Dez is an idiot, I'd say the team ownership, everywhere in the league, are idiots. Their salary structure actively deteriorates team harmony in ways that other private businesses don't usually see. Veterans in other businesses get more vacation time, preferred office spaces, cushier schedules, choice assignments. Rookies start with lower pay, get shittier assignments, and work weekends. It's no wonder rookies in the NFL come in with inflated egos; they've had people telling them since they were 5 years old that they're the next Jerry Rice, they're the greatest, we buy your mom a car if you sign with our school! Then you sign them for record amounts of money, more than the veterans earn, and get them onto the team before you start teaching them humility?

Not trying to make this about you, but have you ever played an organized sport, served in the military, or otherwise been part of a cohesive unit of men?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Dudley

Not trying to make this about you, but have you ever played an organized sport, served in the military, or otherwise been part of a cohesive unit of men?

I do theater, and I've played in a band.

[Fish]

And to forestall the inevitable, "You don't know what it's like man! You're not an athlete, you've never been in the military, that's the way we do things!" let me continue:

I'm all for the kind of unit-cohesion tactics in a military unit: breaking down the spirit of the individual, putting the team first, handing out discipline, enforced terms of respect, barrack-scrubbing, and so on. But that's because the situations are life-and-death and the chain of command is a) inviolate, b) hard-coded, and c) merit-based. I'd recommend these methods for football. You earn promotions in the military, whereas in football, you bargain for a high salary but it isn't performance based, it's potential-based and market-based.

By the same token, I don't see that the "rookie carries the vet's shoulder pads" has a purpose. Everybody should have the responsibility and professionalism to look after his own gear — you don't see in the military where a recruit takes care of everybody else's rifle. Your gear is your gear and without it you're in a heap of hurt. The "make fun of rookies" business breaks down the spirit of the rookie, sure, but it gives the veteran an unwarranted sense of value and importance, and I don't see how "teamwork" derives from puffing egos of non-performing veterans.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Fish

And to forestall the inevitable, "You don't know what it's like man! You're not an athlete, you've never been in the military, that's the way we do things!" let me continue:

Wow, you just have me all figured out. I was only trying to understand your perspective by getting a little bit of your background. Every one sees things different, largely based on their experiences. My experiences are vastly different than yours; so much so that I had absolutely no idea how you have the position you do. But, yeah, I do now.

Are you willing to understand someone else's perspective on this, or are you just going to keep on vehemently disagreeing that another player should carry another's pads?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Dudley

Are you willing to understand someone else's perspective on this, or are you just going to keep on vehemently disagreeing that another player should carry another's pads?

I started the poll. What makes you think I don't want somebody else's perspective?

[brownie55]

Originally Posted by Fish

I do theater, and I've played in a band.

So nothing you do involves men?

Look, I have been in IT from the time it was recognized as a profession. I was responsible for information technology before it meant computer shit. We hire people out of school all the time. And frankly, teamwork at our level is important, too. A shitload more important than is is in the NFL if watching the Redskins since the Daniel bought them means anything.

So, should I ask the new hires to do the reports I am responsible for? Fuck no, and any asshole that thinks some rookie should carrry his pads is just a whining diva.

Team works both ways, from the top down and from the bottom up. The OMG he won't carry my pads, sissies are more emblimatic of the problems with sports than what is right and noble.

[iampunha]

Originally Posted by brownie55

[Teamwork is a] shitload more important [in IT] than is is in the NFL if watching the Redskins since the Daniel bought them means anything.

I don't think we should base any legitimate football talk on what Daniel Snyder thinks is good football. The man's got deep pockets, but his brain is full of the lint displaced in his pockets by cash.

[brownie55]

Originally Posted by iampunha

I don't think we should base any legitimate football talk on what Daniel Snyder thinks is good football. The man's got deep pockets, but his brain is full of the lint displaced in his pockets by cash.

How many NFL teams do you own?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by brownie55

So nothing you do involves men?

Cute.

Apart from that, I agree with your take on teamwork; it's important on every team, not just the ones with knee pads.

[Dosipede]

See this? No that's some good old-fashioned rookie hazing.