The Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch was reportedly handed three dinner checks by tight end Kyle Pitts and his new teammates after the team’s offense went out to eat.
The bill came to roughly $35,000, which Branch was supposedly made to pay as part of an NFL tradition for rookies. While it may be a harmless joke in the locker room, it has drawn plenty of criticism from fans online.
NFL Fans Blast Falcons’ Rookie Dinner Tradition With Zachariah BranchRookie dinners have been a part of the NFL for decades, with first-year players often expected to treat their veteran teammates to an expensive meal. The tradition is generally seen by players as a form of team bonding, although its critics have questioned whether it crosses the line into hazing.
The dinners have produced some eye-popping bills over the years. Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant reportedly faced a $55,000 tab during his rookie season in 2010, while other NFL rookies have also shared five-figure bills from their initiation dinners.
The practice has divided former players in the past as well. Some have defended the dinners as a natural part of joining an NFL locker room, while others have argued that young players, particularly those still learning how to manage their finances, shouldn’t be encouraged to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a single meal.
That debate resurfaced after Branch’s reported $35,000 bill, with fans questioning whether the tradition has gone too far.
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One fan called out the financial implications of making a young player foot such a massive bill.
“It’s funny because he can’t afford that. This is the worst NFL tradition and just shows the lack of financial literacy,” they posted.
Another fan argued that these dinners can encourage poor financial habits among players who are just beginning their professional careers.
“[expletive], lame. And we wonder why these dudes go broke, they’re set up from the time that they get into the league by their veteran players to spend money unnecessarily [expletive] lame,” the fan commented.
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Another criticized the NFL tradition, suggesting that rookies are being put in financially irresponsible situations early in their careers.
“[expletive] like this is exactly why people don’t feel bad for [expletive] athletes go broke and complain about going broke. They do it to themselves and set up the younger guys to fail,” the user on X noted.
The bill’s size alone was enough to shock some fans, who pointed out that $35,000 is roughly equivalent to an entire year’s salary for many Americans.
“$35k is roughly a yearly salary for the average person and this guy drops it on dinner. Different worlds,” one pointed out.
One fan added, “In the NBA, they just fill your Porsche up with popcorn,” to show the difference between the two leagues.
Another fan dismissed the practice as one of the worst traditions in professional sports, saying they wouldn’t pay for it if they were in Branch’s place.
“Stupid tradition. We know guys struggle with managing money anyway. Why do this?” they asked, adding, “The ones that make 20 mil per year, running up huge tabs on a guy making 600k a year after taxes. That’s just not something I play about. I wouldn’t pay it. I wouldn’t care what they thought.”
Branch is entering the NFL as the 79th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $7 million ($7,056,144).
Despite all the backlash, the incident may not be quite as harsh. After handing Branch the checks, Pitts appeared to reassure the Falcons rookie that he would not be left completely on his own, saying, “I’mma help you.”
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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