National Football League

Shear genius as Broncos vets shave rookies' locks

Published Aug. 8, 2010 1:09 a.m. ET

foxsports

Tim Tebow was all the buzz Saturday night at the Denver Broncos' practice.

The rookie quarterback stood out not only for his play at practice but for his shaved locks, the top of his head completely sheared to leave a ring of hair that made him look like a monk.

The pranks the veterans will play.

Tebow and the other rookies had their heads decorated with wacky haircuts before the workout and they had to show them off during warm-ups when they couldn't hide underneath their helmets.

''I think all the rookies had a good time with it,'' Tebow said. ''It was something to give everybody a laugh, something also to build chemistry.''

Tebow wasn't the only one to get a bad haircut. Receiver Eric Decker was outfitted with lines carved into his 'do and left guard Zane Beadles sported a reverse Mohawk.

Offensive lineman Eric Olsen was able to save his long, flowing dirty blond locks in the back, but he's now bald on top, and tight end Nathan Overbay had half a haircut, his left side sheared and his right side left alone.

Tebow's new look was hard to miss, especially with his thick facial hair. When his image was shown on the big screen at Invesco Field before practice, the crowd broke into laughter.

He said linebacker Wesley Woodyard was the barber responsible for his cut, taking out some of his college frustrations with the razor (Woodyard went to SEC rival Kentucky).

''He was getting a few blows back from the college days,'' Tebow said, laughing.

Tebow didn't stand out just for his bad haircut. The first-round pick out of Florida looked good in front of the home crowd, too, tossing about a 25-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas into the corner of the end zone. Tebow then sprinted down the field to celebrate with his fellow rookie.

''He went up there and got it,'' Tebow said. ''Great job by D.T.''

Later in the practice, Tebow made a play with his feet, scoring a short TD on a QB keeper.

''To go out there and play in the stadium for the first time was really exciting,'' Tebow said. ''To be able to have a drive and try to run the offense was fun.''

After practice, fans excitedly took pictures of Tebow's bad haircut, which quickly circulated around the Internet.

Finally, a team official handed him a baseball cap to hide his bad hair day.