Food - News
The Outrageous Rookie Meal That Has NFL Players Divided
By CRISTINE STRUBLE
Making a newbie pay for the entire team’s dinner might be rooted in NFL tradition, but according to Torrey Smith, “This dinner sets a precedent for a lifestyle that the majority of players cannot afford to do and shouldn't be living anyway.” Although the rookie meal practice used to be viewed as a team bonding experience, the recent discourse regarding it could spark a change.
In 2014, Philadelphia Eagles’ right tackle Lane Johnson tweeted an image of a team dinner receipt totaling almost $18,000, giving the audience a glimpse of a pricey secret that some NFL players are tired of hiding. In June 2022, wide receiver Torrey Smith tweeted his dislike of the NFL rookie meal tradition and also talked about the lack of financial literacy of the rookies.
The 2022 NFL wide receiver rookie Garret Wilson thought that taking his fellow receivers to dinner would “be cool,” but he learned the harsh reality of the situation on “The Pivot Podcast.” A rookie needs to learn that the dinner tab might not be “his decision,” but whether players agree, disagree, or stay silent on the matter remains to be seen.