NFL investigating Saints hazing
Second-round pick Cleeland still has blurred vision
Posted: Tuesday August 25, 1998 07:06 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- New
Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka refused to talk to reporters on
Tuesday. A team spokesman said the coaches and players were unavailable
because of a post-practice meeting with NFL security about a hazing
incident that left tight end Cam Cleeland with blurred vision in one eye.
The meeting lasted approximately 5 minutes and players, including Cleeland
refused to talk afterward.
"NFL security today advised the Saints that it has initiated a review of
the rookie hazing incident that took place in La Crosse, Wisconsin," Saints
general manager Bill Kuharich said in a written statement. "The review by
NFL Security will now be conducted and the result in a report to the
commissioner. The matter is now in NFL securities hands and the Saints will
no longer answer questions regarding this matter at this time."
Cleeland, the second-round draft pick, said a CAT scan revealed no broken
bones around his left eye. His vision remained blurred, however, and he
said he was still having headaches.
Cleeland was one of a number of rookies who had pillow cases put over
their heads and were forced to run a gantlet of veteran players. He was the
only one to sustain serious injuries, however.
"I guess when you get hit in the head with a bag of coins you're bound to
have blurred vision," said Cameron Foster, Cleeland's agent.
He said the bag of coins was also used to hammer Cleeland's ankle, which
had sidelined him most of camp because of a sprain.
Foster said that he advised Cleeland not to practice or play until he got
a second opinion on the extent of his injuries from the incident.
Cleeland's nose may have been broken and he was found to have a fluid sac
detached from his retina.
Other draft picks who went through the gantlet were No. 1 pick Kyle Turley, No. 6 pick Chris Bordano,
seventh-round pick Andy
McCullough, and free agent Jeff Danish.
Four other draft picks -- fourth-rounders Julian Pittman and Fred Weary, No. 5 pick Wilmont Perry and
seventh-rounder Ron
Warner did not run the gantlet.
Four of the five players who were hazed were white, including Cleeland.
The four who did not run the gantlet were all black.
Cleeland's father said he thought the hazing of his son was racially
motivated. Some players disagreed.
"There is a certain rite of passage into the NFL," a player who asked not
to be identified told the Times-Picayune. "It just went overboard.
Guys got a little carried away. But I don't feel it was racially motivated
as some are suggesting."
The Saints had not been able to identify the players who formed the
gantlet and had not been able to fine or punish them, Ditka said.
"What do you want me to do," Ditka said Monday. "Do you want to line them
up against the wall and shoot them? There's nothing you can do."
Foster, however said that the Saints should punish the entire team and
keep punishing them until the guilty players were identified.
"The Saints brought this on themselves," Foster said. "It's not enough to
give a lecture on not hazing and then do nothing to prevent it. Now you're
talking about a potentially career-ending injury."
Foster has written to the league and the NFL Players Association
concerning the incident. He wasn't sure if he would take any further
action.
"I'm waiting to see if the New Orleans Saints will clean up their own
house," he said. "If they don't do it, I'll do something."
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