Uh-oh

Being an avid follower of then NFL since the age of 7, of all the things that make it great to me, number one is tradition.  If your reading this, you're likey a football fan too.  Being one, you know that the NFL and it's glorious past is shrowded in such images of those black and white footage reels from NFL films.  From George Halas, co-founder of the league and long time owner/coach of the Chicago Bears pacing the sidelines in black frame glasses, trenchcoat and fedora to Vince Lombardi chastizing his players, "justabunch of grabbowskies out dare... grabbin...no tacklin!...grabbin!"  Gale Sayers gliding past the outstrectched arms of sliding defensive players on a snow muddied field to Tracey Porter slamming the door on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.  Tradition has been the glue holding it all together.
An important traditon in the NFL is the hierachy of veterans to rookies.  Inside that traditon is the hazing of rookies durinig training camp.  Every rookie who has played the game has experienced some kind of hazing at least once.  It's a right of passage. The stories are legendary.  Taping to the goalposts, wild goose chases.  "Hey rook, sing your college fightsong".  "Hey rook, bring donuts to the meeting"  "Hey rook, carry my shoulder pads"...(cut to the sound of screeching brakes).
Until now.
Uh-oh!
Dallas Cowboys number one draft pick, WR Dez Bryant from Oklahoma St. refused to participate.  Asked to carry his shoulder pads by fellow WR Roy Williams, Bryant refused, saying, "I came here to play football, not carry someone's shoulder pads."
That sound you just heard were the collective horrified gasps of Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips and the entire Cowboys nation like George Cosatanza in the "shrinkage" episode.
Uh-oh.
Now,  for any rookie this would be a red flag.  But for Bryant, this is a red banner.  A red strobe light of blinding brilliance.
For this is THE Dez Bryant who followed two highly productive seasons in Stillwater by being stripped of his eligibilty the second half of his junior year for improper associations with former NFL player Deion Sanders.  A move that cost him millions due to his drop in draft stock.  Under Armour has dropped what was going to be a big time endorsement deal negotiated by his marketing reps.
Now every sports media oulet has converged on this story like Lindsey Lohan's perp walk to prison.
Uh-oh.  
Bryant's reputation for being a troubled and arrogant college player has now slivered it's way into his NFL image.  In one practice he has sealed all of the doubt skeptics had about his maturity and demeanor. 
His new teammate's suspicion about this potential prima-donna has been solidified.  "We just got rid of T.O. now here comes D.B?!"
Uh-oh.
Guys like Ole Dez just can't help it.
His type come along every so often (Chad Ochocinco anyone?).  They think THEY are bigger then the game.  They can't understand how the game has prospered so long without them. 
They have no sense of tradition.
Ironic, because Bryant was given the hallowed number 88. A Cowboys tradition, the number of WR greatness passed down from legends Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin.
The funny thing is, all this could have been avoided...
Just carry the damn shoulder pads! 
Curse, rant, bitch all the way, but JUST carry the friggin pads!
Cowboys fans...
Uh-oh, indeed.