The Richie Incognito hazing story in Miami has picked up enough national steam that it has made its way into almost every locker room in the NFL.
On Tuesday, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was asked about his hazing policies with the Vikings. In short, he doesn’t allow it.
“Just as a former player and seeing what guys experienced who were hazed and then as a coach witnessing guys that were being hazed and the effect it had on them,” Frazier answered, via ESPN. “I just didn’t want that to be a part of what we were trying to do once I became a head coach. I just didn’t see the benefit of it when it comes to wins and losses. I have no regrets about that.
“I had some veterans who tried to talk me out of it. I don’t think that helps you to win games from my vantage point. Everybody has their way of doing things. Those guys that you’re messing with are guys that we’re counting on to help us to win. You want the right chemistry in the locker room, as well. I just didn’t see the plusses to doing it.”
As we noted yesterday, Jared Allen is one of the veterans who feels like hazing is a “rite of passage” for veteran players.
Adrian Peterson described what hazing was like for him as a rookie in 2007.
“They hung me upside down,” Peterson said, according to FOX Sports North. “They really didn’t do much to me. Chester Taylor, he was cool. I carried a helmet or shoulder pad from time to time. But after those guys saw me in training camp, they really weren’t trying to bother me too much. I think I earned their respect rather quickly.”
Meanwhile, Frazier’s duties this week have included talking to veteran players about their public disgust with some of the play-calling in Minnesota’s loss to Dallas last week. Frazier said he understands players are frustrated, but “we’ll definitely talk through that situation as a team and just where we are and what we have to do to move forward.”
While Frazier wants the players to keep complaints in the clubhouse, defensive end Brian Robison says he doesn’t take any of his critical comments back, according to WCCO.
“I don’t take back anything,” he said. “I’m probably going to get griped at for it. In my honest opinion, I don’t think I said anything out of line. I don’t think I necessarily threw anybody under the bus. I didn’t say anything that I shouldn’t have said. We’ve always prided ourselves on holding each other accountable.”
