I couldn’t help noticing the short article by Jim Corvett (USA Today) last week regarding the NFL Dallas Cowboy’s  rookie, Dez Bryant and a potential hazing prank .  I’m not a fan of hazing when it in anyway becomes dangerous to those involved, but I’m not even sure this particular event could me put into the hazing category. 

Apparently, one of the long time traditions in NFL training camps is to have the rookies carry the veterans’ shoulder pads off the field–especially if they’re approached by a veteran player.  Bryant ran off the field wearing his own shoulder pads and carrying no one else’s even though he was approached by veteran Roy Williams to carry his.  What makes this exchange even more interesting is Bryant is challenging the veteran Williams for his starting position.  Williams was quoted as saying that Bryant “….wants to concentrate on football….”  and he didn’t make a big deal about it even mentioning he’s going to eat a bit more when they have the traditional dinner paid for by the rookies–good corporate voice for Williams.  Not so good corporate voice for Bryant.

Down the road, what happens to Bryant if he doesn’t get the starting position, if he needs help from Williams, other veterans or even other rookies?  Dez Brant needs to think about his corporate voice and that it is not only representing himself, but the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL.   He needs to think about how others see him and how young kids may look up to him as a role player.  Bryant needs to think “team”.  He needs not to burn his bridges.  One is always on stage in the NFL as with other highly visible sports.   Positive and negative media coverage and public perception are all influenced by corporate voice.  I always thought there was no “I” in team.  Maybe Dez Bryant spells it differently.