IRVING, Texas – Dallas Cowboys second-year cornerback Morris Claiborne was in the same rookie class as Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jonathan Martin. But Claiborne says he never went through rookie hazing like what Martin has reportedly experienced.
"I don't really know what goes on with other teams, but it don't go on here," Claiborne said Wednesday. "When I heard about it I was shocked because I didn't know that stuff like that happened in the NFL."
Martin left the Dolphins last week after a lunchroom incident. A few days later, veteran guard Richie Incognito was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. It has been reported that Incognito's bullying of Martin included threatening, racially charged text messages.
There have also been reports that Incognito pressured Martin into paying $15,000 to help fund a trip to Las Vegas. Claiborne said he's never experienced anything more than chipping in with other rookies to pay for a team meal and bringing sunflower seeds to defensive back team meetings.
"Everybody has to play a part and everybody has to go through it," Claiborne said. "There's certain stuff that you do but I didn't know stuff like that goes on in the NFL, what's taken place in Miami.
"The worst thing I had to do was have sunflower seeds every day. And I thought that was bad."
Cowboys veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick said he doesn't think hazing is an issue in the NFL. But Scandrick also said players need to stick up for themselves if bullying takes place.
"I don't really know what happened in Miami but you got to put some fault on both ways," Scandrick said. "As a man, when you come into work, you got to stand up for yourself at some point. This is a different kind of place to be. This is a different kind of atmosphere to work in and I think as a man, you come in here and you kind of earn your respect. Nothing should be given to you. It's hard to get in this locker room."
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
