The Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch was reportedly handed three dinner checks by tight end Kyle Pitts and his new teammates after the team's offense went out to eat.
The bill came to roughly $35,000, which Branch was supposedly made to pay as part of an NFL tradition for rookies. While it may be a harmless joke in the locker room, it has drawn plenty of criticism from fans online.
Rookie dinners have been a part of the NFL for decades, with first-year players often expected to treat their veteran teammates to an expensive meal. The tradition is generally seen by players as a form of team bonding, although its critics have questioned whether it crosses the line into hazing.
The dinners have produced some eye-popping bills over the years. Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant reportedly faced a $55,000 tab during his rookie season in 2010, while other NFL rookies have also shared five-figure bills from their initiation dinners.
The practice has divided former players in the past as well. Some have defended the dinners as a natural part of joining an NFL locker room, while others have argued that young players, particularly those still learning how to manage their finances, shouldn't be encouraged to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a single meal.
#part #branch #wide
The bill came to roughly $35,000, which Branch was supposedly made to pay as part of an NFL tradition for rookies. While it may be a harmless joke in the locker room, it has drawn plenty of criticism from fans online.
Rookie dinners have been a part of the NFL for decades, with first-year players often expected to treat their veteran teammates to an expensive meal. The tradition is generally seen by players as a form of team bonding, although its critics have questioned whether it crosses the line into hazing.
The dinners have produced some eye-popping bills over the years. Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant reportedly faced a $55,000 tab during his rookie season in 2010, while other NFL rookies have also shared five-figure bills from their initiation dinners.
The practice has divided former players in the past as well. Some have defended the dinners as a natural part of joining an NFL locker room, while others have argued that young players, particularly those still learning how to manage their finances, shouldn't be encouraged to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a single meal.
#part #branch #wide
3 months ago
