Rocky McIntosh's newest blog 8/8

[Press]

Rocky talks about camp, Zorn's no rookie hazing rule, how camp is going, and looking forward to the games.

Rocky's blog- http://playerpress.com/articles/live-from-training-camp

[SKINFAN]

No rook hazing! WTH?!!! this sucks for sophomores that took last year!

[SkinsJock]

No rook hazing! WTH?!!! this sucks for sophomores that took last year!

but, it probably is better for everybody personally, I have always felt that hazing rookie players is a stupid practice and cannot imagine that it has any benefits in bringing players in and making them feel a part of the team framework you are trying to get established

If a player who is here thinks that by participating in hazing a rookie player is going to make he or the rookie feel better - then that player probably has some issues

[VetSkinsFan]

I don't disagree with hazing. It's a rite of passage IMO. Just like we used to get hazed when we got promoted in the Army. It's all part of being a team.

[SkinsJock]

I understand VetSkinsFan but we also need to keep in mind that things change and we don't always have to do what we did in the past just because it's a rite of passage - that's a little like saying "well it worked in the army, so what harm can it do?" this is not an army and while we used to go out with a big club and drag our female acquaintances home in the old days, and that was not a bad thing back then - times have changed

we all can have different opinions on how best to motivate and welcome in our future team mates but I'm sure if you asked the majority of older NFL players about it they would admit that it is just something that they had to go through but it was not something that they thought was really helpful

[VetSkinsFan]

Have you verified that:

...if you asked the majority of older NFL players about it they would admit that it is just something that they had to go through but it was not something that they thought was really helpful...

or is this just speculation? There are many rites of passage in society, and once thru it, I understand it as bringing people together thru a common bond. They're not maiming people and crippling them or maliciously attacking their character, after all. It's a way to welcome them in to a brotherhood, and I see an successful NFL team as just that. You can't succeed if you can't depend on your teammates on yoru left and right. (Come to think of it, that sounds like a theory I've encountered somewhere else.)

You don't like the Army analogy (like that's the only place hazing and rites of passage happen)? I can't think of a better example to show where comraderie and teamwork is more important.

...and to use your example, just because it changed, doesn't mean it wasn't right in the first place.

[SkinsJock]

Have you verified that:

...if you asked the majority of older NFL players about it they would admit that it is just something that they had to go through but it was not something that they thought was really helpful...

or is this just speculation?

is that a question? I said "I'm sure .... " meaning that "I think that ... " this to me is pure speculation on my part

There are many rites of passage in society, and once thru it, I understand it as bringing people together thru a common bond. They're not maiming people and crippling them or maliciously attacking their character, after all. It's a way to welcome them in to a brotherhood, and I see a successful NFL team as just that. You can't succeed if you can't depend on your teammates on your left and right. (Come to think of it, that sounds like a theory I've encountered somewhere else.)

You don't like the Army analogy (like that's the only place hazing and rites of passage happen)? I can't think of a better example to show where comraderie and teamwork is more important.

...and to use your example, just because it changed, doesn't mean it wasn't right in the first place.

sorry! did we touch a nerve, or what - this is just an opinion from someone

I also was in the army - Australia's armed forces - we didn't need hazing when we were promoted (or, on any other occasion) to know if we could depend on our mates

look I'm not against hazing per se and some of it can be fun but the connotation of the act is, to me anyway, just something that is not needed - times have changed and in today's society and in our sports, it is not always necessary to just keep up the act because it was always done before - As a former "leader" it was my experience that you'll get a lot more out of people by treating them as you would have them treat you and by setting an example of how to conduct themselves - hazing just doesn't do it for me, but to each his own

no big deal here for me

[VetSkinsFan]

I guess it would depend on your idea of hazing. I see hazing the rookies no different than the practical jokes that veterans play on each other. It's all in good fun. I'm not talking about covering someone in honey and tying them to an anthill. With the intensity of games/practices, it can be a good way to bring people together. I'm not claiming it's necessary, but I don't see it in any way detrimental to the team. It can welcome the young players in and immediately give them a common bond with the veterans of the team.

[SkinsJock]

no worries - that to me is essentially what I was saying too - there's hazing and there's team building through using what could possibly be termed hazing acts but just not meant to humiliate or to belittle the rookies - I'm all for it under those conditions too

Zorn is probably just trying something different - not to say that at any time he might not want to get back to it too