National Football League

Shockey discusses hazing in the NFL

Published Nov. 4, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Ten-year NFL veteran Jeremy Shockey gave his thoughts about the recent hazing controversy that’s come to light in Miami and his personal encounter with similar types of activities in the latest episode of The Peter Schrager Podcast .

As a New York Giants rookie in 2002, Shockey stood up to veteran linebacker Brandon Short, after being asked to recite his name, his school, his signing bonus, and the University of Miami fight song. Shockey refused to do so and a fight broke out. Shockey goes into great detail on this story and shares his thoughts on hazing in the NFL locker room and the culture rookies face.

“I’ve been to dinners where I’ve seen rookies spend $30,000,” he tells Schrager. “$30,000! When I was a rookie, I had to buy donuts every morning from Krispy Kreme. Every Saturday and every Friday, I bought coffee. No problem.”

“The bullying thing is a very common thing in the NFL,” says Shockey, who’s now an entrepreneur living in Miami. “But I never did it, personally. The Visanthe Shiancoe’s, the Eli Manning’s—I never did any of that to them.”

As a veteran on the Giants, Saints, and Panthers, Shockey says he often would step in and put an end to hazing rituals when he thought they were going too far.

“Several times, I’d say, ‘This guy is here to help us. This kid is young.’ I remember several times doing that. I wasn’t a person who ever picked on another person. I wouldn’t make them carry my pads. I could carry my own pads. I could pay for my own meal.”

Shockey also discusses the fallout of the Bountygate scandal, in which he’s now two years removed from being labeled a “snitch” by NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp.

“That word, ‘snitch’, makes my skin crawl. It was absurd,” Sapp says. “I think Warren regrets it, probably. But he’s in that realm of life where controversy, good or bad, is good for him. He’s a commentator. The least he could do is raise your hand up and say, ‘Maybe my source isn’t right. I apologize.’ A lot of people have that throne on TV and say things. They should be fined. There should be accountability there. Just like the players. Unfortunately, in the world we live in, there’s not.”

Lastly, Shockey tells Schrager that despite waking up with pain many mornings and suffering from frequent headaches, he has no regrets whatsoever about his NFL career.

“You can have a great pick on a stock or go with a couple women at the same time, but there’s no better feeling than winning a championship," Shockey said. "It’s just a great feeling. I know that sounds cheesy or whatever, but when you work so hard and all that hard work pays off—there’s no greater feeling.”

Peter also catches up with NFL on FOX sideline reporter Laura Okmin, whose 28-minute uncut interview with Cam Newton, can be accessed here.