Oakland Raiders: Rookie Hazing Avoids Crossing Line

There is a necessary evil that is rearing its ugly head at NFL camps across the nation. The mere mention of it has bullies smiling and peons scrambling for a hiding place. I am referring to hazing and, for once, the Oakland Raiders are on the right side of a fine line. 

There is no way of knowing when hazing began in professional sports. I am sure there is some anecdote that includes Tris Speaker making a new outfielder carry his luggage to his room. If not, I just invented one. 

Regardless of its inception, hazing is a part of sports just like gruff coaches, two-a-day practices and heavily-caloric energy drinks. 

There is no getting around the big boys making sure the new kids know their place. The problem arises in the delivery. Some methods cross a very fine line and head straight into torture. The country has become sensitive to bullying in recent years, and that is a good thing. 

How can we tell an eight-year-old to treat those smaller than him with class, when we are privy to hazing amongst NFL teams? Well, the Raiders are taking the time-honored ritual in stride. 

The important thing is, the rookies are part of the joke. Larry Brown Sports released the first proof that hazing does indeed still exist in the league.

Up until this point, the pictures of rookies carrying pads or being taped to goalposts were vacant from our daily inbox. The relative calm on that front may have something to do with coaches' new-found hatred of all things hazing.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, nails the temperature of the league perfectly. He has banned such haircuts in his camp, and the reason is simple.

"The whole thing really had gotten carried away in recent years," Del Rio said. "We wanted to rein it in a little bit while still letting the guys have some fun."

There is something necessary in hazing, a rite of passage that has stood the test of time. However, it can get ugly quickly. ESPN has a list of cruel rituals that took hazing into a level that has no place in sports, or any other place for that matter.

Even if the act is harmless and good-natured, there is no way of knowing what the victim has been through. In 2004, linebacker Sean Tufts ran into the woods after he was made to stand and sing some songs in front of the Carolina Panthers vets.

He was later found taped to a post and sprayed with ice-cold Gatorade. He was later released by fans. There has to be something deeper to a burly man who couldn't stand the thought of singing in front of strangers.

Sometimes, even the harmless fun is being played on a fragile mind. That is why hazing cannot be dismissed as a given. The pictures taken from Raiders camp are hilarious to me, and to you, but they may be catastrophic to their victim.

For now, I submit to the smiles the rookies wear as they gladly dawn the hideous haircuts. There is no crime in having a little fun—or is there?

Something must be said for the sudden dip in the amount of hazing throughout the league. Perhaps the fun has lost its luster. Maybe there are better things to worry about at camp. 

The one thing I do know is that hazing is not a black or white subject. There are those who want their right to induct the youngsters to the club. Then there are those rookies who welcome the friendly ribbing—it makes joining the fraternity feel genuine. 

I guess it all comes down to a fine line that is always moving. One day you may be on the right side of it like the Raiders are. Other times you can rip apart a fragile mind as the Panthers did in 2004.  

Behind the ugly haircuts lies an even uglier tradition. It is one that will continue for as long as there are rookies. Del Rio has it right. It is supposed to be about fun. The minute that leaves the room, you have crossed that line, and it is never easy to come back.