Rookies have done nothing in pro football. It doesn't matter how high they were drafted, how talented they are, or what their accomplishments may have been in college. All of that is irrelevant.

All that matters is what they do in the NFL. Having rookies perform menial tasks is one of the main ways in which the veterans humble the latest crop of hotshots who show up for training camp. A lot of times they need it. And really, the message is a simple one — you need to earn your stripes in this league. Carrying bags or shoulder pads or whatever is just part of that. It is a tradition started long ago with the express purpose of sending a subtle message to its intended recipients.

It's not just players, mind you. One of the most respected football men in the business, Bill Parcells, is a believer. I still remember him making first-round pick Terence Newman get him a cup of water or Gatorade every time there was a water break during practice with the Cowboys in 2003. That's worse than just carrying somebody's pads off the field after practice if you ask me.

How about Bill Belichick? He made first-rounder Laurence Maroney set up the partition that divided the team meeting room in half to separate the offense from the defense every single day during his rookie season in 2006. So clearly, Belichick believes in putting the rookies in their place as well.

Last season, rookies got haircuts. Really bad haircuts. Remember Tom Brandstater?


Haircuts may come this week for the rookies.

Remember they got doused with water in an extreme fumble drill — before practice?

This season, rookies, including Tim Tebow , have yet to catch the full brunt of their green-ness. Still, there was Tebow on Sunday, hauling equipment like the first-year player that he is. Just like most every other rookie in the league.

“I don’t know that they’re buying in as much as it is they’ve already had it. I think that just coming to a team that has a great work ethic and coaches that have great work ethics so the players see that and then we have leaders that come out every day and show up and work hard. Guys like (S Brian) Dawkins and (LB Elvis) Dumervil and (QB Kyle) Orton and all those guys come out here and work hard every day and those are great leaders for everybody else to watch.”

If nothing else, one can say the ethic and character of these Broncos is winning its way into the hearts and minds of Bronco fans as well as in the locker room.


Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno was the victim of a bad haircut in 2009.