Know Your Role, and Shut Your Mouth, Rookie.

With all the attention Dallas Cowboy's rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is getting prior to this upcoming season, you might forget that he's never even played in an NFL game. From GM's asking Bryant if his mother was ever a prostitute, to Bryant following Quarterback Tony Romo to a quarterbacks only practice area, it seems hard not to hear about Dez Bryant these days. On Sunday, Bryant got himself in the news again (for the wrong reason this time), by refusing to carry veteran wide receiver Roy William's shoulder pads after the team had finished practice.

This act is common among many teams, where older players make rookies carry equipment as part of a hazing process, but also to show respect to veteran players. This type of hazing is a tradition that has gone on for decades, and carrying someones shoulder pads is probably easier and less demeaning than some of the other experiences N.F.L. rookies endure. After the incident, Bryant responded to the situation by saying:

"I'm not doing it. "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]."

While Bryant said he didn't mean any disrespect by, it is one of the most selfish and insolent acts I've ever seen by a rookie, in any sport. As Roy Williams awknowlegded, it's something that all rookies have to go through, no matter what draft pick you were, or how important you think you might be.

At least you didn't have to wear a ridiculous outfits and face the media (like Robinson Cano and Justin Upton, below).

At least the equipment you were asked to carry was only a players pads and was during training camp. Not during during a home game in the regular season, in some ridiculous backpack.

All you had to do was carry shoulder pads maybe a couple hundred yards back to the practice facility. Is that really too much to ask? Have a little fun, and forget your ego for one second, Dez.