Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Dez Bryant does not have any room for the old school or for sports tradition. Bryant, who plays for LeBron James' favorite football team, refused to participate in an NFL rite of passage. Bryant refused to carry the shoulder pads of veteran receiver Roy Williams following a recent practice. On ESPN.com: "I'm not doing it," Bryant said....
Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant. Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Dez Bryant does not have any room for the old school or for sports tradition.
Bryant, who plays for LeBron James' favorite football team, refused to participate in an NFL rite of passage. Bryant refused to carry the shoulder pads of veteran receiver Roy Williams following a recent practice.
"I'm not doing it," Bryant said. "I feel like I was drafted to play football, not carry another player's pads."
"If I was a free agent, it would still be the same thing. I just feel like I'm here to play football. I'm here to try to help win a championship, not carry someone's pads. I'm saying that out of no disrespect to [anyone]."
It's a common duty for rookies to participate in some sort of hazing. Rookies often have to sing their alma mater's fight song during training camp.
"Everybody has to go through it," Williams said. "I had to go through it. No matter if you're a No. 1 pick or the 7,000th pick, you've still got to do something when you're a rookie.
"I carried pads. I paid for dinners. I paid for lunches. I did everything I was supposed to do, because I didn't want to be that guy."