This according to 11th-year pro John Lynch, who in his rookie training camp was forced to sing solo to 5,000 fans after a night practice at the University of Tampa.
With a microphone.
"Hazing wasn't as discouraged back then by the coaches as it is now," Lynch said. "You got taped. We had to bring breakfast every morning. Now, we have them bring breakfast once a week."
Why the leniency? According to Lynch, rookies can thank the salary cap for making their lives easier. Ten years ago, few rookies were counted on to make an impact on the field.
"Now, with the salary cap, you expect a lot of rookies to play and as a result coaches discourage you from treating them differently," he said. "How do you do that and expect them to play?"
Will Heller, a tight end from Georgia Tech, expected to at least leave camp with a shaved head, but still has his brown locks. The worst second-round pick Dewayne White, a defensive end from Louisville, has endured is carrying veterans' shoulder pads off the practice field.
Light duty.
"Everybody says we've got it easy," White said. "They say, "No one's taped you up or made you buy a $1,000 dinner for the older guys.' " I had to carry some pads one day, but it's no big deal. It's a rite of passage and I don't mind doing it."
Fresh face
NAME: Jeff Grau.
HT./WT.: 6-3; 246.
POSITION: Long snapper.
COLLEGE: UCLA.
BACK IN THE DAY: A native of Torrance, Calif., he was one of only five freshmen to play for the Bruins' 1998 team that went 10-2, won the Pac-10 title and was ranked No. 8 in the final Associated Press poll. A walkon, he earned the long-snapping job in the fall and was a staple on special teams the next four years.
TO MAKE THE TEAM: Acquired last week in a trade from the Cowboys, he is expected to bring stability to the kicking game, which struggled in Friday's 20-19 victory against the Dolphins. In 16 games with Dallas last season he never had a bad snap.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: He is a talented guitar player, able to play most any Dave Matthews Band song on his Taylor 714. Just don't ask him to sing.
QUOTE: "If you're good in this job, no one knows who you are," he said of long snappers. "You just try to stay anonymous."
