Colts rookies given haircuts by Colts Veterans

[Valpo2004]

So, what do you suppose would happen if a rookie showed up completely shaven?

 

Maybe they would take a marker and draw on his head?

[TKnight24]

Just to make clear, i have nothing against inutiating rookies by carrying veterans pads, i think that is a small sacrifice rookies can do to show respect for their elders

And having to sing caraoce is the kind of thing vets can enjoy a show and have a few laughs..

But ruining someones look seems just stupid to me, not fun.. but i guess it's just me

Not sure if you ever got a haircut before, but the hair does grow back just in case you weren't sure

[Boiler_Colt]

This goes on at all levels of team sports. The Freshman in high school get their hair cut by the seniors, same in college, same in the pro's. I've given some bad haircuts myself and had a few. It's all in good fun part of the initiation process and building unity. All in all, it's just hair, it grows back. Most of these players should be used to this by now. Plus football players wear helmets, when I played rugby that haircut had nowhere to hide.

[jvan1973]

As GoColts said, Colts never didi this kind of rookie hazing before.. why now?

Do you really think this is fun? Or that the rookies were having fun?

No big deal, i was thinking our veterans were above this, getting kicks from humiliazing the rookies..

Have you ever been in a locker room before? Far worse stuff than haircuts go on i promise you

[CroatianColtsFan21]

Have you ever been in a locker room before? Far worse stuff than haircuts go on i promise you

Must be an american thing then.. haircut is a sacred thing here in europe, especially for athletes

Don't mess with the hair!

[Steamboat_Shaun]

As GoColts said, Colts never didi this kind of rookie hazing before.. why now?

Do you really think this is fun? Or that the rookies were having fun?

No big deal, i was thinking our veterans were above this, getting kicks from humiliazing the rookies..

 

The old Colts teams were kind of stoic and robotic. This is refreshing, fun & games, and perfectly harmless.

[jvan1973]

Must be an american thing then.. haircut is a sacred thing here in europe, especially for athletes

Don't mess with the hair!

I didn't even take into account that you are in Croatia. That is exactly the reason you are having trouble with this. Yeah, over here we love to humiliate those we care most about. Not sure how that got started. But locker rooms are rough on hair and ... the nether regions

[yahootmagooty]

According to the star, the rookies volunteered for the haircut.

 

 

"He gave some Colts rookies — who volunteered for the humiliation — some "haircuts" Monday night at training camp."

 

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/08/04/indianapolis-colts-cory-redding-jack-mewhort-zurlon-tipton/13605699/

[Bshultz]

Art's twitter feed said #nohazing #volunteer #trainingcamp

[Bravo]

Of course, the rookies don't have a choice..

Yes they do, they arnt being tied down and being forced to do anything...

Plus if you have a twitter or Instagram they posted videos and pictures of themselves laughing about it and saying how good they look.

If they didn't like it try wouldn't be joking and laughing about it as much as they did!

There are plenty of worse things the Colts could do. 90% of the teams probably do this kind of stuff. Besides Miami node becuase what they did was obviously bad! But if you get on NFL.com plenty of teams have already done stuff to their rookies. Your entitled to your own opinion obviously but it's all fun.

[Valpo2004]

Must be an american thing then.. haircut is a sacred thing here in europe, especially for athletes

Don't mess with the hair!

 

I think in this situation the hair cuts are more of a badge of honor for the rookies, it's sort of a way that the team is accepting them into the group.  

[CroatianColtsFan21]

I think in this situation the hair cuts are more of a badge of honor for the rookies, it's sort of a way that the team is accepting them into the group.

Considering the rookies reportedly voluntered for having their heads violated, you might be right..

looks like they needed some kind of symbolic entrance to the big league, i guess..

oh, well, if it helps boosting their confidence, who am i to object..

[FloridaColtsFan]

Good talk and laughter by all involved.  Now go kick some butt on the field.

[Valpo2004]

Considering the rookies reportedly voluntered for having their heads violated, you might be right..

looks like they needed some kind of symbolic entrance to the big league, i guess..

oh, well, if it helps boosting their confidence, who am i to object..

 

Volunteering can also help the vets feel more integrated to you as well.  

 

I don't think it's all that symbolic or that it helps their confidence.  I think socially speaking your relationships with your teammates is improved by doing that.  

 

Usually groups like that have fun little traditions as a way of bringing new people into the group.  

 

Navy's around the world for example have traditions for sailors crossing the equator for the first time.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-crossing_ceremony 

 

Volunteering for the haircut probably improves these guy's standing with the vets.  

[Mitch]

I thought colts were above this sh.t

Disappointed..

 

I'm Disappointed that you have zero sense of humor. The rookies got a kick out of it and it does help with team bonding. They will all have buzzcuts soon enough. 

[Franklin County]

_{They had them on the news, at noon. All the players looked like they were having fun with it. I liked the rookie with the hand print on his head the best. Good clean fun.}

[ruksak]

But ruining someones look seems just stupid to me, not fun.. but i guess it's just me

It's not just you. You see, most people just go along with what everyone else is doing, that's how most minds work. Some, however, don't bend to every convention that is popular. Most people don't like the lone wolf, they wonder why such a person won't just join-up and be a herd animal. 

 

It's peer pressure and childish behavior in what is supposed to be a professional, adult environment. 

 

Disagree? Then tell me, anyone, in what other adult workplace does this sort of behavior follow? Imagine your first day at a big corporation, your dream job you've worked for years to land, and all the vets want to shave your damn head? So it's not OK at X Corp, but it is OK at Colts inc? 

 

Truth is, many of these players don't want to do this but they pretend to go along with it 100% because they don't want the stigma of not being a team player, they don't want to be ostracized. There are other, more positive ways to build team cohesiveness then through juvenile pranks that wouldn't fly outside of this one particular supposed "adult" environment. 

[ruksak]

I'm Disappointed that you have zero sense of humor. The rookies got a kick out of it and it does help with team bonding. They will all have buzzcuts soon enough. 

So you would be fine with getting a jacked-up haircut on your first day at a job? Would it help you bond with your team mates? Is there some scientific study that shows forcing the "new guy" to be dominated by the vets in any way creates cohesiveness within a unit? Or are you just believing this because you heard some people say it before? 

[ruksak]

I think in this situation the hair cuts are more of a badge of honor for the rookies, it's sort of a way that the team is accepting them into the group.  

...and then cut them from the roster like dysfunctional machinery only days/weeks later? 

 

Yeah.....right bud. It's a business, and the fellas having a laugh molesting your hair have no control over your fate. The vets accept you until the grim reaper asks for your playbook and escorts you out the door, stupid looking haircut and all. 

[austriancolt]

I don't like it. Totally unnecessary and stupid behavior and there are better ways for team building... 

[jvan1973]

Harmless in everyway

[Thewholefnshow28]

So you would be fine with getting a jacked-up haircut on your first day at a job? Would it help you bond with your team mates? Is there some scientific study that shows forcing the "new guy" to be dominated by the vets in any way creates cohesiveness within a unit? Or are you just believing this because you heard some people say it before? 

 

I have always scoffed at the idea of hazing like this as some kind of team builder especially at the pro level where it is a business.  I got hazed and it was mild hazing like having to sing happy birthday to the senior, carry the balls & cones out to the practice field, or take their trays up to throw their lunch away.  Doing those things did not make me feel closer to the team.  Putting in the work at practice and putting it all out on the field together for the game is what brought us together not the other crap they did.  

 

Everyone likes to say oh the rooks were enjoying it, but even if they were not did they really have a choice?  Fans will of course say yes, but in reality unless they want to be a social pariah in the lockerroom they best play along.  It gets even worse as you go down levels to college and high school.  

 

In my high school if you did not participate in the hazing as a freshman or you stood up to the seniors when they started to go to far then you best quit the team because you would never be part of it.  Our high school ended up basically threatening all sports with being disbanded it went to far my sophomore year.

[ruksak]

I have always scoffed at the idea of hazing like this as some kind of team builder especially at the pro level where it is a business.  I got hazed and it was mild hazing like having to sing happy birthday to the senior, carry the balls & cones out to the practice field, or take their trays up to throw their lunch away.  Doing those things did not make me feel closer to the team.  Putting in the work at practice and putting it all out on the field together for the game is what brought us together not the other crap they did.  

 

Everyone likes to say oh the rooks were enjoying it, but even if they were not did they really have a choice?  Fans will of course say yes, but in reality unless they want to be a social pariah in the lockerroom they best play along.  It gets even worse as you go down levels to college and high school.  

 

In my high school if you did not participate in the hazing as a freshman or you stood up to the seniors when they started to go to far then you best quit the team because you would never be part of it.  Our high school ended up basically threatening all sports with being disbanded it went to far my sophomore year.

Bravo! Bravo, sir. 

 

Well said. 

 

I would think a better exercise in cohesiveness would be for them to go fishing or take a bunch of inner city kids to a baseball game. Something that doesn't overtly dominate the new guys in what is actually an exercise in stipulating the pecking order. 

[trueblueblood]

I'm surprised about everyone's positive reaction to this, i just don't get the "bonding" trough stupid humiliating haircuts..

But if you say they all had fun with it, i'll leave it at that..

They do this kind of thing... But I bet you anything if one of these rookies got punched by an opposing team, guys like redding and art would be the first to back him up. I don't know if you have a group of guys you hang out with but it's very normal for guys to give each other a hard time. Have you ever played football? This is mild compared to some of the stuff I had to do as a freshman in high school.

[CroatianColtsFan21]

They do this kind of thing... But I bet you anything if one of these rookies got punched by an opposing team, guys like redding and art would be the first to back him up. I don't know if you have a group of guys you hang out with but it's very normal for guys to give each other a hard time. Have you ever played football? This is mild compared to some of the stuff I had to do as a freshman in high school.

I wasn't trying to start the whole rookie hazing debate, i just find this "funny" haircut thing stupid and unhumorous..

I remember watching the rookies getting haircuts on hard knocks with jets and dolphins and thinking, i'm glad colts players don't do this, this is sooooo lame..

That's why i was disappointed..

I liked the singing/talent shows though..

[B~Town]

It's not just you. You see, most people just go along with what everyone else is doing, that's how most minds work. Some, however, don't bend to every convention that is popular. Most people don't like the lone wolf, they wonder why such a person won't just join-up and be a herd animal. 

 

It's peer pressure and childish behavior in what is supposed to be a professional, adult environment. 

 

Disagree? Then tell me, anyone, in what other adult workplace does this sort of behavior follow? Imagine your first day at a big corporation, your dream job you've worked for years to land, and all the vets want to shave your damn head? So it's not OK at X Corp, but it is OK at Colts inc? 

 

Truth is, many of these players don't want to do this but they pretend to go along with it 100% because they don't want the stigma of not being a team player, they don't want to be ostracized. There are other, more positive ways to build team cohesiveness then through juvenile pranks that wouldn't fly outside of this one particular supposed "adult" environment. 

The office job is nothing like a sports job two different worlds I grew up playing every sport they all have different rookie initiations it's part of sports .  

[Coffeedrinker]

It's not just you. You see, most people just go along with what everyone else is doing, that's how most minds work. Some, however, don't bend to every convention that is popular. Most people don't like the lone wolf, they wonder why such a person won't just join-up and be a herd animal. 

 

It's peer pressure and childish behavior in what is supposed to be a professional, adult environment. 

 

Disagree? Then tell me, anyone, in what other adult workplace does this sort of behavior follow? Imagine your first day at a big corporation, your dream job you've worked for years to land, and all the vets want to shave your damn head? So it's not OK at X Corp, but it is OK at Colts inc? 

 

Truth is, many of these players don't want to do this but they pretend to go along with it 100% because they don't want the stigma of not being a team player, they don't want to be ostracized. There are other, more positive ways to build team cohesiveness then through juvenile pranks that wouldn't fly outside of this one particular supposed "adult" environment. 

I will say I agree with the comment about too many people going along with the crowd rather than thinking things through.  However, I disagree with your assertion that just because a player agreed to have his hair cut that he is some sort of sheep that isn't thinking for himself. 

 

I work for a large engineering firm that is so old fashion that we still have to wear ties to work every day and on my first client meeting with a Top 5 oil company, they changed the background information in my presentation of the piping model and then grilled me for 5 minutes why everything was off and nothing was lining up and why none of my new piping was connecting to the existing piping, etc.  When I finally just sat there, speechless, the client, who was in on it, burst out laughing and said, "welcome to the world of oil & gas piping."  That was my initiation and I would have much rather have some silly design cut into my hair.

 

Life is meant to be fun.  If the rooks volunteered for it and to them that is a way to bond or gain acceptance with their peers then why are fans whining about it?  If someone didn't want to get their hair cut then I'm guessing they didn't volunteer.  You sound like Professor McGonnagall in the 4th Harry Potter movie, “We and our guests gather in the main hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity.”

[ruksak]

The office job is nothing like a sports job two different worlds I grew up playing every sport they all have different rookie initiations it's part of sports .  

You "grew up" playing. Exactly, this is a kids game and it amuses me when grown men refuse to break form childlike tradition while playing a kids game for millions of dollars. I'm sorry, but the idea of professionalism transfers the same toward the profession of sport as it does to engineering or any other profession. Treating your co-workers with respect is part of this, and in no way whatsoever do I see subjugation as respectful. 

 

The idea of hazing, and that's what this is, was born not from respect but a warped sentiment of forcing the low-man into his place, reminding him/her that they're a "worm" and they are far from earning their place at the table. 

 

To be clear, I'm not deeply offended by this. I'm just remarking that my reaction to this isn't the same as many others. I don't see this as positive. I see it as misguided bonding through subjugation. 

 

Teenage gangs do the same thing. Called a "jump-in", they beat the hell out of the new guy before accepting him. If one looks closely, we see many parallels between professional sport and a typical gang mentality, both in respect toward the players and the fans. The epidemic of fan violence in the NFL stands speaks volumes in this regard. 

[Coffeedrinker]

You "grew up" playing. Exactly, this is a kids game and it amuses me when grown men refuse to break form childlike tradition while playing a kids game for millions of dollars. I'm sorry, but the idea of professionalism transfers the same toward the profession of sport as it does to engineering or any other profession. Treating your co-workers with respect is part of this, and in no way whatsoever do I see subjugation as respectful. 

 

The idea of hazing, and that's what this is, was born not from respect but a warped sentiment of forcing the low-man into his place, reminding him/her that they're a "worm" and they are far from earning their place at the table. 

 

To be clear, I'm not deeply offended by this. I'm just remarking that my reaction to this isn't the same as many others. I don't see this as positive. I see it as misguided bonding through subjugation. 

 

Teenage gangs do the same thing. Called a "jump-in", they beat the hell out of the new guy before accepting him. If one looks closely, we see many parallels between professional sport and a typical gang mentality, both in respect toward the players and the fans. The epidemic of fan violence in the NFL stands speaks volumes in this regard. 

I agree with you on misguided bonding but really?  You are comparing shaving designs in a rookie's hair with gang members beating a new member to a pulp?  I make some giant leaps on this board but that one is beyond me.

[Valpo2004]

I just think that as long as these things are kept within reasonable grounds then we should let the players have their fun.  I think it's important to have coaches and vet leaders keep on eye and make sure that this doesn't get taken too far.

 

Besides I'm guessing they are likely allowed to shave their hair and re-grow it how they want after camp is over.  

 

Losing the hair can't be that big of a deal.  The military shaves the head of every male recruit who comes in.  Sporting a strange do for a couple weeks (if that) and then shaving your head and regrowing it all just doesn't seem like a huge deal to me.

[Ryan Pelley]

@RichieIncognito68: LOL good one Colts. Now, where's the pics of you calling the rookies gay and threatening to kill them?

[Mitch]

 

 

Ooops Double Post. Mods can delete this one. 

[Mitch]

So you would be fine with getting a jacked-up haircut on your first day at a job? Would it help you bond with your team mates? Is there some scientific study that shows forcing the "new guy" to be dominated by the vets in any way creates cohesiveness within a unit? Or are you just believing this because you heard some people say it before? 

 

I'm shocked there are so many fans on these forums against it. It's only hair, it grows back. Are you guys that self-conscious about your appearance that this would be offensive to you? If it helps the team forget about football for a little while before the first pre-season game, I'm all for it. The rookies seemed to get a kick out of it anyways, especially Mewhort.

 

They weren't "dominated" by the vets...that's dumb to say. Redding even said if they didn't want em to "touch this or that" then they wouldn't. Also a player could've said no to the hair cut, but they still said yes because it's hilarious and once again it's HAIR, it grows back relatively quickly. They can get a fresh shave. Plus these guys are football players, not Models(Exception is Tom Brady and his hair cuts are worse than some of the one the rookies have)  :clap: . 

 

 

 

Teenage gangs do the same thing. Called a "jump-in", they beat the hell out of the new guy before accepting him. If one looks closely, we see many parallels between professional sport and a typical gang mentality, both in respect toward the players and the fans. The epidemic of fan violence in the NFL stands speaks volumes in this regard. 

 

[Superman]

You "grew up" playing. Exactly, this is a kids game and it amuses me when grown men refuse to break form childlike tradition while playing a kids game for millions of dollars. I'm sorry, but the idea of professionalism transfers the same toward the profession of sport as it does to engineering or any other profession. Treating your co-workers with respect is part of this, and in no way whatsoever do I see subjugation as respectful. 

 

The idea of hazing, and that's what this is, was born not from respect but a warped sentiment of forcing the low-man into his place, reminding him/her that they're a "worm" and they are far from earning their place at the table. 

 

To be clear, I'm not deeply offended by this. I'm just remarking that my reaction to this isn't the same as many others. I don't see this as positive. I see it as misguided bonding through subjugation. 

 

Teenage gangs do the same thing. Called a "jump-in", they beat the hell out of the new guy before accepting him. If one looks closely, we see many parallels between professional sport and a typical gang mentality, both in respect toward the players and the fans. The epidemic of fan violence in the NFL stands speaks volumes in this regard. 

 

What about rookies buying dinner?

[lollygagger8]

@RichieIncognito68: LOL good one Colts. Now, where's the pics of you calling the rookies gay and threatening to kill them?

 

 

Dude, cmon. 

[B~Town]

What about rookies buying dinner?

I would rather have my hair cut than pay 10 K for dinner on the rookie pay scale .

[Valpo2004]

What about rookies buying dinner?

 

Now I have to say I'm not a big fan of that one especially with the rookie salary cap now.  It would be fine if the dinners where not too expensive but the vets it seems use it as an excuse to run up 5 figure bills.  

 

Granted the players drafted highly can afford that, but we also know those players should be saving their money as much as possible because no one knows how long this football thing is gonna last for them.  

 

Really hurts the message when after hearing "save your money" they show up to camp and are expected to shell out $30k for a bunch of other dude's food.

[Valpo2004]

@RichieIncognito68: LOL good one Colts. Now, where's the pics of you calling the rookies gay and threatening to kill them?

 

What's funny about this if you read the Martin report like I have is that both Johnathon Martin and the people who wrote the report pretty much condoned things like rookie hair cuts.  

 

Read that again Martin expected and believed that rookie hair cuts where an important part of team bonding and had no problem with participating in it.  The report which was harsh on Incognito and Pouncy for their bullying behavior pretty much condoned things like rookie performances and rookie haircuts as normal and acceptable.

[Valpo2004]

From the Johnathon Martin Report (Page 69):

 

"Martin has not alleged that he was subjected to inappropriate or abusive 

rookie hazing in the Dolphins training camp. As described to us, the rookie initiation 

practices during Dolphins camp were relatively innocuous: for example, most first-year 

players were given clownish haircuts, required to buy food for their teammates and made 

to participate in a “talent show” that involved singing a song before the entire team. 

Some of these antics were shown on the HBO television program Hard Knocks, which 

was filmed at the Dolphins training camp in 2012. Martin indicated he viewed the rookie 

initiation activities as mild stuff and a normal rite of passage that did not bother him. 

Because Martin was the rookie offensive lineman who received the largest signing bonus, 

he had to pay most of the bill for a lavish dinner for the entire offensive line. Although 

the bill for this meal amounted to approximately $8,000, Martin did not object and does 

not regard paying for the dinner to have been abusive or unfair."

 

http://63bba9dfdf9675bf3f10-68be460ce43dd2a60dd64ca5eca4ae1d.r37.cf1.rackcdn.com/PaulWeissReport.pdf

 

And if you read this report it pretty much entirely vindicates Martin and what he did while placing the entirety of the blame at Incognito and Pouncy's feet.

 

There are of course limits to what is done to rookies and coaches and team captains both have a job to keep this sort of stuff in check.  But giving someone a clownish haircut isn't bullying or domination.

[Superman]

Now I have to say I'm not a big fan of that one especially with the rookie salary cap now. It would be fine if the dinners where not too expensive but the vets it seems use it as an excuse to run up 5 figure bills.

Granted the players drafted highly can afford that, but we also know those players should be saving their money as much as possible because no one knows how long this football thing is gonna last for them.

Really hurts the message when after hearing "save your money" they show up to camp and are expected to shell out $30k for a bunch of other dude's food.

I was watching Hard Knocks last night, and it showed William Moore's lavish house, while at the same time cutting away to rookie 4th rounder Davonte Freeman looking for a modest apartment. So I wondered what kind of contract Freeman got. He received a $484k signing bonus. After taxes and agent fees and union dues and whatnot, that's probably $200k in his pocket.

I'm not saying it doesn't hurt to drop a few grand on the rookie dinner, but they're not being broken by it. And according to your post, we're talking about the guys who got the biggest bonuses handling most of the bill.

Funny story: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/06/evan_mathis_6405576_rookie_haz.html