Broncos veterans had a tradition of giving rookies hideous haircuts each offseason, a tradition that dated all the way back to the Tim Tebow era. New coach Vic Fangio put a stop to the tradition this summer.
“I just don’t think it’s right,” Fangio said after practice Tuesday. “I just don’t believe in hazing. There are traditions that stay put. Guys are getting up in front of the team and doing a little skit every night.
“Maybe a rookie’s carrying somebody’s pads off the field and so on, or bringing in the doughnuts or breakfast. But nothing physical.”
Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders was disappointed by the new rule but he respects the coach’s decision.
“Oh, I am upset about that,” Sanders said. “He’s knows it. He said, ‘no touching the rookies’ . . . . But at the same time, I respect Vic. I love that guy. Just how he comes in the meetings and breaks down situational football. And how much he cares about his players, how he goes about coaching and everything. It’s awesome to see. So, if that’s how he wants it to go, that’s how it is.
“But at the end of the day it’s not about that. It’s about wins. And so that’s what we are trying to do around here.”
